10 GA Restaurants, Chefs Named James Beard Award Semifinalists

GEORGIA — Restaurants and chefs in Georgia are well represented in the semifinalists announced Wednesday for the prestigious 2023 James Beard Awards, sometimes referred to as the Oscars of the culinary arts industry.

Named for the late chef, cookbook author and food presenter James Beard, the awards “recognize exceptional talent in the culinary and food media industries, as well as a demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive,” the James Beard Foundation said Wednesday in a news release.

The semifinalists are recognized across 23 categories, including a new award for outstanding bakery.

Here are 2023 James Beard Award nominees from Georgia:

• The Grey, Savannah

• Buena Gente Cuban Bakery, Decatur
• Unforgettable Bakery & Cafe, Savannah

• Ticonderoga Club, Atlanta

• Lyla Lila, Atlanta, GA

• Ronald Hsu, Lazy Betty, Atlanta
• Terry Koval, The Deer and the Dove, Decatur
• Jiyeon Lee and Cody Taylor, Heirloom Market BBQ, Atlanta
• Sahar Siddiqi, Chai Pani, Decatur
• Deborah VanTrece, Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours, Atlanta

Award nominees will be announced March 29, and the winners will be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on June 5 at the Lyric Opera in Chicago.