The James Beard Foundation today announced the 2018 crop of nominees for its annual restaurant awards. The awards, which have been presented since 1990, honor excellence in food, drink, service, restaurant design and more.
Here’s a look at some of the nominees who will be trading their chef coats for tuxes and gowns when the winners are announced May 7 in Chicago. For a complete list, go to the James Beard Foundation Awards website.
Best New Restaurant
- The Charter Oak; St. Helena, Calif.
- Empellon Midtown, New York City
- Felix Trattoria; Venice, Calif.
- JuneBaby, Seattle
- Kismet, Los Angeles
Outstanding Baker
- Dianna Daoheung; Black Seed Bagels, New York City
- Zachary Golper; Bien Cuit, Brooklyn, N.Y.
- Maura Kilpatrick; Sofra Bakery and Cafe, Cambridge, Mass.
- Belinda Leong and Michel Suas; B. Patisserie, San Francisco
- Alison Pray; Standard Baking Co., Portland, Maine
- Greg Wade; Publican Quality Bread, Chicago
Outstanding Chef
- Ashley Christensen; Poole’s Diner, Raleigh, N.C.
- Gabrielle Hamilton; Prune, New York City
- David Kinch; Manresa, Los Gatos, Calif.
- Christopher Kostow; The Restaurant at Meadowood, St. Helena, Calif.
- Donald Link; Herbsaint, New Orleans
Outstanding Pastry Chef
- Kelly Fields; Willa Jean, New Orleans
- Meg Galus; Boka, Chicago
- Margarita Manzke; Republique, Los Angeles
- Dolester Miles; Highlands Bar & Grill, Birmingham, Ala.
- Diane Yang; Spoon and Stable, Minneapolis
Outstanding Restaurant
- Balthazar, New York City
- Canlis, Seattle
- Frasca Food and Wine; Boulder, Colo.
- Highlands Bar & Grill; Birmingham, Ala.
- Quince, San Francisco
Outstanding Restaurateur
- Kevin Boehm and Rob Katz; Boka Restaurant Group (Boka, GT Fish & Oyster, Girl & the Goat and others), Chicago
- JoAnn Clevenger; Upperline, New Orleans
- Ken Oringer; Uni, Little Donkey, Toro and others, Boston
- Caroline Styne; The Lucques Group (Lucques, a.o.c., Tavern and others), Los Angeles
- Ellen Yin; High Street Hospitality Group (Fork, High Street on Market, High Street on Hudson and others), Philadelphia
Outstanding Service
- Boka, Chicago
- Saison, San Francisco
- Zahav, Philadelphia
- Zingerman’s Delicatessen; Ann Arbor, Mich.
- Zuni Cafe, San Francisco
Rising Star Chef of the Year
- Camille Cogswell; Zahav, Philadelphia
- Clare de Boer; King, New York City
- Sarah Rinkavage; Marisol, Chicago
- Miles Thompson; Michael’s, Santa Monica, Calif.
- Kevin Tien; Himitsu, Washington, D.C.
Outstanding Bar Program
- Anvil Bar & Refuge, Houston
- Bar Agricole, San Francisco
- Clyde Common; Portland, Ore.
- Cure, New Orleans
- Kimball House; Decatur, Ga.
- Trick Dog, San Francisco
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