Trattoria Stella executive chef and co-owner Myles Anton was nominated for a James Beard Award Wednesday - making Anton a five-time nominee for the prestigious culinary honor and one of only four Michigan chefs to make the 2015 short list.

Anton spoke to The Ticker from Grand Rapids Wednesday - where he was traveling on business with Stella co-owner Paul Danielson - after learning he'd once again been nominated in the Best Chef: Great Lakes category. "I wait a little breathlessly the day that it comes out now," he admits with a laugh. "But I'm still so surprised and blown away. It's the biggest honor, for all of us (at the restaurant). We're very proud. Paul and I are having a beer right now to celebrate."

Marc Djozlija of Wright & Company and Andy Hollyday of Selden Standard - both in Detroit - were also recognized in the Best Chef: Great Lakes category, while Garrett Lipar of Torino in Ferndale was nominated for the Rising Star of the Year award. Anton says he is "floored" to be on the list with those chefs, singling out Selden Standard as "a phenomenal restaurant."

Could the fifth year be the charm for Anton? "You never know," he says. "There are some guys that have been nominated nine or ten times. We'll have to see what happens this year."

The 2015 nominees will be pared down to a smaller group of finalists on March 24, with the winners announced on May 4 at the James Beard Awards gala at the Lyric Opera in Chicago.