York Jackson York has been named Chef of the Year by the Texas Chef Association, the Edom Bakery & Grill announced.

York received the gold medal award and trophy during the organization’s annual convention in Beaumont on July 17.

“It shows that nice guys can finish first,” Edom Bakery & Grill owner Bud Berry said.

Each of the 15 chapters of the TCA nominates one of its members as a candidate for Chef of the Year. York, having served as the East Texas chapter’s president, was its nominee.

Of all the nomin ations this year, only three chefs met rigorous standards by the Texas Culinary Federation for the finalists. York was deemed most deserving under criteria established for finalists, which included not only culinary expertise but “extraordinary” community involvement.

York was a consultant for Edom Bakery & Grill for four years before the restaurant’s owners asked him to join the staff.

He has taught at Trinity Valley Community College and has worked at other restaurants including the French Escargot in Fort Worth.

York also conducts seminars for the Henderson County Master Gardener Association.

Edom Bakery and Grill is known for its baked goods, seafood, steaks and breakfast, as well as its soups and sandwiches.

About seven years ago, it was remodeled from what used to be a hardware store at the corner of Farm-to- Market roads 314 and 279.

Three years later, it opened another location at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport.

The restaurant’s Web site is edombakery.com.