Beard Announces Semi-Finalists For 2008

The list of Restaurant and Chef semifinalists for the 2008 James Beard Foundation Awards has just been released. Usually the Beard people announce the five nominees, but this year they are sending out the names of the cut before the final narrowing of names. On Monday, March 24, the Beard Foundation will announce the final nominees – five in each category, selected by a panel of more than 400 judges. The winners will be announced on Sunday, June 8 at the Awards Ceremony and Gala Reception at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center.

Here Thomas Keller and Daniel Boulud toast Michel Richard's selection as the 2007 Chef of the Year.

The semifinalist nominees for the readership footprint of my publication Foodservice Monthly (DC VA MD DE and Philly) follow. The full press release and list of semifinalists can be found on the James Beard Foundation Web site.

Outstanding Chef
José Andrés, Minibar, Washington, D.C.
Marc Vetri, Vetri, Philadelphia, PA

Outstanding Restaurateur
Ashok Bajaj
Ardeo, Bardeo, The Bombay Club, The Oval Room, Rasika, and 701 Restaurant, Washington, D.C.

Outstanding Restaurant
Vidalia, Washington, D.C.

Outstanding Wine Service
Lacroix at the Rittenhouse, Philadelphia, PA
Vidalia, Washington, D.C.

Outstanding Service
Vetri, Philadelphia, PA

Rising Star Chef
Jeff Michaud, Osteria, Philadelphia, PA
Johnny Monis, Komi, Washington, D.C.
Michael Solomonov, Marigold Kitchen, Philadelphia, PA

Outstanding Pastry Chef
Naomi Gallego, PS 7’s, Washington, D.C. (recently moved to Texas)
Kate Honeyman, The Continental Mid-town, Philadelphia, PA

Wine & Spirits Professional
Terry Theise, Terry Theise Estate Selections, Silver Spring, MD
Todd Thrasher, Restaurant Eve, Alexandria, VA

Best New Restaurant
Central Michel Richard, Washington, D.C.
Osteria, Philadelphia, PA
The Source, Washington, D.C.
Tinto, Philadelphia, PA
Xochitl, Philadelphia, PA

Best Chef Mid-Atlantic
Michael Adams, The Farmhouse, Emmaus, PA
Cathal Armstrong, Restaurant Eve, Alexandria, VA
Alison Barshak, Alison at Blue Bell, Blue Bell, PA
Jim Burke, James, Philadelphia, PA
Jay Caputo, Espuma, Rehoboth Beach, DE
Melissa Close, Palladio, Barboursville, VA
Michael DiBianca, Moro, Wilmington, DE
Jose Garces, Amada, Philadelphia, PA
Carole Greenwood, Buck’s Fishing & Camping, Washington, D.C.
Frits Huntjens, 1 North Belmont, Richmond, VA
Todd Jurich, Todd Jurich’s Bistro, Norfolk, VA
Matthew Levin, Lacroix at the Rittenhouse, Philadelphia, PA
Daniel Stern, Rae, Philadelphia, PA
Koji Terano, Sushi-Ko, Washington, D.C.
Cindy Wolf, Charleston, Baltimore, MD
Eric Ziebold, CityZen, Mandarin Oriental, Washington, D.C.

Comments

[Sharon Taft]

Best wishes and congratulations to Todd Thrasher and Cathal Armstrong for your nominations. Were rooting for you.

Also,best wishes to Jay Caputo of Espuma in Rehoboth -- our favorite chef and restaurant in Delaware.