Kevin Gillespie and “Hired Guns” Guest Chefs Vishwesh Bhatt and Vivian Howard are James Beard 2016 Semifinalists – Join Bhatt March 13-14 at Gunshow

Kevin Gillespie has a knack for scoping out some of the most talented chefs in the nation and inviting them to Atlanta as guest chefs in the Gunshow “Hired Guns” dining series. They accept the challenge, much to the delight of Atlanta diners. Affirming his picks, two chefs in this year’s “Hired Guns” series join Gillespie as semifinalists for James Beard 2016 Restaurant and Chef Awards. Vishwesh Bhatt of City Grocery Restaurant Group in Oxford, Mississippi, is on the “Best Chef: South” short list, and Vivian Howard of Chef & The Farmer in Kinston, North Carolina, joins Gillespie on the “Best Chef: Southeast” list. Finalists will be announced on Twitter March 15. Act fast and you can still score seats at Bhatt’s “Hired Guns” dinner events, 6-9 p.m. Sunday, March 13 or Monday, March 14; $95 per person (excluding tax, gratuity and drinks). Buy tickets online. Calendar scroll through to fall and save October 16 and 17 for Vivian Howard’s “Hired Guns” visit.