The James Beard Foundation today announced its list of semi-finalists for its annual culinary awards to be presented May 2 at Chicago’s Civic Opera House. The finalists will be announced on March 15. For more information, the complete list of nationwide nominees and tickets to the gala awards ceremony on May 2, visit jamesbeard.org/awards
The Chicago nominees include:
Outstanding Restaurant
Alinea
Best New Restaurant
The Blanchard
Intro
Outstanding Chef
Tony Montuano, Spiaggia
Carrie Nahabedian, Naha
Chef Tanya Baker, of The Boarding House| Sun-Times Photo
Best Chef (Great Lakes Region):
Jake Bickelhaupt, 42 Grams
Abraham Conlon, Fat Rice
Curtis Duffy, Grace
Paul Fehribach, Big Jones
Phillip Foss, EL Ideas
Eric Heath, Cleveland-Heath, Edwardsville, Ill.
Beverly Kim and Johnny Clark, Parachute
Ryan McCaskey, Acadia
Iliana Regan, Elizabeth
Lee Wolen, Boka
Andrew Zimmerman, Sepia
Rising Star Chef of the Year
Tanya Baker, Boarding House
Edward Sura, Perennial Virant
Jenner Tomaska, Next
Outstanding Baker
Dave and Megan Miller, Baker Miller Bakery & Millhouse
Outstanding Bar Program
Lost Lake
Outstanding Pastry Chef
Meg Galus, Boka
Outstanding Restaurateur
Kevin Boehm and Rob Katz, Boka Restaurant Group, Chicago (Boka, Girl & the Goat, Momotaro, Swift & Sons, and others)
Outstanding Service
North Pond
Topolobampo
Outstanding Wine Program
Sepia
Outstanding Wine, Spirits, or Beer Professional
Charles Joly, Crafthouse
The James Beard Foundation previously announced chef/author/television personality Leah Chase as the recipient of the 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award, and Father Gregory Boyle, S.J., founder of Homeboy Industries, as the recipient of the 2016 Humanitarian of the Year award.
Each year, a list of semifinalists (this year, culled from more than 20,000 entries) is sent to an independent volunteer panel of more than 600 judges from across the country. This panel, which comprises leading regional restaurant critics, food and wine editors, culinary educators, and past James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Award winners, votes on specific award categories to determine the final five nominees in each category. The same judges then vote on these five nominees to select the winners.
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