Prolific Finger Lakes restaurateur named semifinalist for prestigious national honor
One of the most prolific business owners in the Finger Lakes region was recently named a semifinalist in the prestigious James Beard Awards, which recognize exceptional talent in the culinary and food media industries.
Christopher Bates, together with his wife, Isabel Bogadtke, own F.L.X. Hospitality, which operates several businesses:
F.L.X. Wienery, a casual burger and hot dog joint along the Seneca Lake Wine Trail in Dundee.
F.L.X. Table, an intimate restaurant in Geneva that serves a five-course tasting menu based on local sourcing. In 2017 it was named the country's best new restaurant in the USA Today 10Best Reader's Choice poll.
The Quincy Exchange, a cozy American bistro in Corning's historic Gaffer District.
The Maillard Club, a high-end steakhouse with a chef's counter omakase experience; it's housed in the same building as The Quincy Exchange.
F.L.X. Provisions, two retail shops and tasting rooms that sell Finger Lakes wines (including Element Winery), international beers, New York state spirits, house made food products and more. They are adjacent to the restaurants in Geneva and Corning.
F.L.X. Culture House, a nano brewery that focuses on complex sours and barrel aged beers; its products are sold at F.L.X. Provisions.
Element Winery, which Bates established with his father, Robert Bates, in 2006. In 2017, they purchased 30 acres of land on the east side of Seneca Lake planted with the varieties that excited them ― syrah, pinot noir, cabernet franc, chardonnay, merlot and cabernet sauvignon — and shifted toward an estate approach.
In addition, Bates travels the world as a master sommelier, having passed the notoriously difficult exam in 2013. That year he also won TopSomm, an important sommelier competition in America. He was named one of Food & Wine magazine's 2016 sommeliers of the year.
The James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards were established in 1990, with the first awards given in 1991. They celebrate excellence across all types of dining experiences, from fine dining to casual establishments. The 2025 restaurant and chef awards have 25 categories;Bates is a semifinalist in outstanding professional in beverage service, which is new this year.
The Finger Lakes region has earned occasional recognition from the James Beard Awards in the past. Finger Lakes winery Red Tail Ridge was named a semifinalist in the category of outstanding wine, spirits or beer producer in 2019 and 2020. Dano Hutnik, the late chef and owner of the recently closed Dano's Heuriger in Lodi, New York, was a semifinalist for best chef in 2012 and 2014.
Nominees will be announced on Wednesday, April 2, and winners will be announced at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on Monday, June 16, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Tracy Schuhmacher has covered Rochester's food scene, along with the Finger Lakes wine and culinary scene, since 2015. Send tips to tracys@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Christopher Bates, F.L.X. Table owner, named James Beard semifinalist
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