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Two Bostonians Are Eater Young Guns Semifinalists for 2018

Congratulations to Ellie Tiglao and Judy Yao

Cut mango, sliced cucumbers, sausages, and other meats form a spread atop banana leaves in a kamayan-style Filipino dinner.
A kamayan feast from Young Guns semifinalist Ellie Tiglao, opening Tanám at Bow Market soon
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

Every year since 2012, Eater has honored a class of Young Guns, the most promising young (or new) talent in the restaurant industry across the country. These trailblazers — who are all either under 30 or have worked in their industry for under five years — can be found in all positions in hospitality, from sommelier to butcher to chef, and past honorees have gone on to open outstanding restaurants, rack up accolades, and make a difference in the dining world nationwide.

Earlier this year, Eater accepted public nominations for the class of 2018, receiving over 2,000 entries for over 600 nominees, and then a panel of esteemed restaurant and hospitality industry vets and Young Guns alumni (including Boston’s Irene Li) helped narrow the list down to a shorter list of 50 semifinalists (technically 53; there are three teams of two), announced today. Next month, the list of winners will be announced, but for today, let’s celebrate the talented semifinalists, including two locals:

Ellie Tiglao, 33, came to Boston as a neuroscientist but found herself operating her first restaurant pop-up in 2014. She’s a worker-owner with the Olio Culinary Collective, and this summer, she’ll be opening Tanám, a Filipino-American restaurant, at Somerville’s Bow Market, focusing on “narrative cuisine” that aims to tell political, cultural, and historical stories, often by collaborating with artists.

Judy Yao, 26, is a butcher’s apprentice at Savenor’s (and a Clover Food Lab alum). She moved to the United States from Taiwan at age 14 and uses food to connect to home — and to help customers find connections of their own as well.

Stay tuned for the announcement of the Eater Young Guns class of 2018 next month.

Eater Young Guns

Young Guns Coverage on Eater [E]