The James Beard Foundation announced its list of Restaurant and Chef Award Semifinalists for the 25th anniversary James Beard Foundation Awards presented by Lexus. Selected from a list of over 34,000 online entries, the prestigious group of Semifinalists in 21 categories represents a wide range of culinary talent, from exceptional chefs and dining destinations in ten different regions across the U.S., to the nation’s top wine and spirits professionals, best new restaurants, rising star chefs, and new in 2015, honors for Outstanding Baker. See this year’s full semifinalist list at the end of this press release or online at jamesbeard.org/awards.
On Tuesday, March 24, 2015, the Foundation will announce the final nominees for all award categories during a press breakfast at the James Beard House. Nominations will be announced live via the Foundation’s Twitter feed at twitter.com/beardfoundation.
On Friday, April 24, 2015, the James Beard Foundation Book, Broadcast, and Journalism Awards Dinner, an exclusive event honoring the nation’s top cookbook authors, culinary broadcast producers and hosts, and food journalists, will take place at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York City.
The James Beard Foundation Awards Ceremony and Gala Reception will take place at Lyric Opera of Chicago on Monday, May 4, 2015. During the event, which is open to the public, awards for the Restaurant and Chef and Restaurant Design categories will be handed out, along with special achievement awards including Humanitarian of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, Who’s Who of Food and Beverage in America, and America’s Classics. A gala reception will immediately follow, featuring top chefs and beverage professionals from across the country.
2015 James Beard Foundation Awards Restaurant and Chef Award Semifinalists
Outstanding Bar Program
A restaurant or bar that demonstrates excellence in cocktail, spirits and/or beer service.
Anvil Bar & Refuge, Houston, TX
Arnaud’s French 75 Bar, New Orleans, LA
Bar Agricole, San Francisco, CA
Barmini, Washington, D.C.
Butcher and the Rye, Pittsburgh, PA
Cane & Table, New Orleans, LA
Canon, Seattle, WA
Clyde Common, Portland, OR
The Dead Rabbit, New York City, NY
The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co., Philadelphia, PA
The Hawthorne, Boston, MA
Kimball House, Decatur, GA
Maison Premiere, Brooklyn, NY
The Other Room, Lincoln, NE
The Patterson House, Nashville, TN
Portland Hunt + Alpine Club, Portland, ME
Tørst, Brooklyn, NY
Trick Dog, San Francisco, CA
The Varnish, Los Angeles, CA
The Violet Hour, Chicago, IL
Outstanding Wine Program
A restaurant in operation five or more years that serves as a standard bearer for excellence in wine service through a well-presented wine list, knowledgeable staff, and efforts to educate customers about wine.
A16, San Francisco, CA
Addison at the Grand Del Mar, San Diego, CA
Annie Gunn’s, Chesterfield, MO
A.O.C., Los Angeles, CA
Bern’s Steak House, Tampa, FL
Casanova, Carmel, CA
Charleston, Baltimore, MD
FIG, Charleston, SC
Hugo’s, Houston, TX
Jory Restaurant at the Allison Inn & Spa, Newberg, OR
McCrady’s, Charleston, SC
Miller Union, Atlanta, GA
Momofuku Ko, New York City, NY
Press, St. Helena, CA
Sepia, Chicago, IL
Spago, Beverly Hills, CA
La Toque, Napa, CA
Troquet, Boston, MA
Wild Ginger, Seattle, WA
Yono’s Restaurant, Albany, NY
Outstanding Wine, Spirits, or Beer Professional (Presented by BACARDÍ® GRAN RESERVA)
A beer, wine or spirits professional who has made a significant national impact on the restaurant industry.
Derek Brown, Mockingbird Hill, Washington, D.C.
Sam Calagione, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, DE
Ron Cooper, Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal, Ranchos de Taos, NM
Mike Floyd, Nick Floyd, and Simon Floyd, Three Floyds Brewing, Munster, IN
Diane Flynt, Foggy Ridge Cider, Dugspur, VA
Jon Gasparini and Greg Lindgren, Rye on the Road, San Francisco, CA
Steven Grubbs, Empire State South, Atlanta, GA
Charles Joly, Crafthouse, Chicago, IL
Jim Koch, The Boston Beer Company, Boston, MA
Manfred Krankl, Sine Qua Non, Oak View, CA
Ted Lemon, Littorai Wines, Sebastopol, CA
Steve Matthiasson, Matthiasson Wines, Napa, CA
Rajat Parr, Mina Group, San Francisco, CA
Tom Peters, Monk’s Café, Philadelphia, PA
Eric Seed, Haus Alpenz, Edina, MN
Aldo Sohm, Zalto Glass, New York City, NY
James Tidwell, Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas, Irving, TX
Rob Tod, Allagash Brewing Company, Portland, ME
Harlen Wheatley, Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, KY
Steve Wildy, Vetri Family, Philadelphia, PA
