James Beard Award Chef and Restaurant Semifinalists Announced
The James Beard Foundation is at the center of America's culinary community. Deemed “the Oscars of the food world,” by Time magazine, The James Beard Foundation Awards are the country’s most coveted honor for chefs; food and beverage professionals; broadcast media, journalists, and authors working on food; and restaurant architects and designers. A panel of 400 judges have selected as the crème de la crème among the 21,000 entries submitted online starting late last year. Finalists will be announced March 22 and winners will be singled out at Lincoln Center on May 3.
The James Beard Foundation Awards, are held annually to honor exceptional chefs and journalists. The main Awards Galas are held on the first Monday in May and feature an awards ceremony and a winning chef's tasting reception afterwards. The Journalism awards are held on a separate day.
Our best wishes go out to all of the semi finalist's as the announcement date of March 22 has many of them on the edge of their seats. We have compiled a very small list of restaurateurs , chefs and restaurants that we have had the pleasure to visit. For the complete list please visit the James Beard Foundation's web site.
OUTSTANDING RESTAURATEUR
Myles Chefetz, Myles Restaurant Group, Miami Beach, FL
OUTSTANDING CHEF
Julian Serrano, Picasso at Bellagio, Las Vegas
RISING STAR CHEF OF THE YEARVanessa Garcia, Restaurant Charlie at the Palazzo, Las Vegas
BEST NEW RESTAURANT
Sage at Aria Resort & Casino, Las VegasOUTSTANDING PASTRY CHEF
Kamel Guechida, Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas
OUTSTANDING WINE SERVICE
Picasso at Bellagio, Las Vegas
OUTSTANDING SERVICE
Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas
Nobhill Tavern at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas
BEST CHEF: SOUTH
Philippe Ruiz, Palme d’Or at the Biltmore, Coral Gables, FL
Kris Wessel, Red Light Little River, Miami
BEST CHEF: SOUTHWEST
Saipin Chutima, Lotus of Siam, Las Vegas
Claude Le Tohic, Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas
Rick Moonen, RM Seafood at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas
James Beard was renowned for his vast knowledge and his huge Rolodex, both of which he shared with a generosity befitting his outsized personality. He connected people; he stayed on top of trends; he was an encyclopedia of food information. In short he was a one-stop resource for all things culinary.
Today, the James Beard Foundation serves as a resource for food lovers and food professionals alike. The Foundation is a New York-based national professional non-profit organization named in honor of James Beard
The Foundation was started in 1986 by Peter Kump, a former student of James Beard and founder of the Institute of Culinary Education. At Julia Child's suggestion, Kump purchased Beard's New York brownstone at 167 West 12th Street in Greenwich Village and preserved it as a gathering place where the general public and press can appreciate the talents of established and emerging chefs.
The James Beard House hosts frequent dinners featuring selected chefs working the Beard kitchen in the company of Foundation members and industry professionals. Notable past chefs have included Daniel Boulud, Emeril Lagasse, Nobu Matsuhisa, Jacques Pépin, and Charlie Trotter.
The James Beard Foundation Awards, are held annually to honor exceptional chefs and journalists. The main Awards Galas are held on the first Monday in May and feature an awards ceremony and a winning chef's tasting reception afterwards. The Journalism awards are held on a separate day
