James Beard Award 2019 Semifinalists: Boston

BOSTON — Several restaurants and culinary names across Boston are semifinalists for 2019 James Beard Awards. Often referred to as the Oscars of the culinary world, the James Beard semifinalists were announced Wednesday.

In Boston, the who's who of semifinalists include:

Best New Restaurant

• Chickadee

Outstanding Restaurant

• O Ya, Boston

Outstanding Restaurateur

• Ken Oringer, Boston (Little Donkey, Toro, Uni, and others)

Outstanding Wine Program

• The Butcher Shop,
• haley.henry,

Boston Rising Star Chef of the Year

• Irene Li, Mei Mei
• Giselle Miller, Menton

Best Chef: Northeast

• Tiffani Faison, Tiger Mama,
• Tony Messina, Uni

The final winners will be announced in Houston on Wednesday, March 27.

The James Beard Foundation solicits entries for the awards in mid-October of each year. They are reviewed by the Restaurant and Chef Committee to determine eligibility and regional representation, and are then voted on by more than 600 judges from across the country to determine the final nominees.

The same group of judges, comprised of leading regional restaurant critics, food and wine editors, culinary educators, and past James Beard Award winners, then votes on the nominees to select the winners.

Tabulations to determine the nominees and winners are done by independent auditors Lutz & Carr. The governing Awards committee, board of trustees, and staff of the James Beard Foundation do not vote, and the results are kept confidential until the presentation of winners in May.

Click here for the complete list of semifinalists.