Chef Ben Halperin in the kitchen of his restaurant, Augusta, in Oxford .

OXFORD  — Ben Halperin, chef and owner of Augusta Restaurant in Oxford, has been named one of the top 40 chefs under for in the U.S. by the journalists at the environmental Website Mother Nature Network (MNN).

MNN was founded in January by Chuck Leavell, the celebrated eco-activist who for 27 years has anchored the Rolling Stones on keyboards. The site examines everything, from the environment to local food to raising a family who appreciates clean air, good food, and a sustainable lifestyle.

Halperin is featured along with other notable chefs from around the country, including Jose Garces a chef and restaurant owner in Pennsylvania who has appeared on the Food Network’s Iron Chef America and is a contestant on this season of The Next Iron Chef, and Kevin Gillespie the executive chef/partner of Woodfire Grill inAtlanta, Ga. He is a current contestant on Bravo TV’s Top Chef.

Read more about Halperin and the other chefs.