Restaurants & Bars
MA 2018 James Beard Award Semifinalists: Full List
See which Massachusetts chefs and restaurants are being recognized this year by the James Beard Foundation.
It's Oscar season again in the food world. The James Beard Foundation released its list of semifinalists Wednesday for national and regional chef and restaurant awards and, perhaps unsurprisingly, numerous Massachusetts restaurants and chefs are up for awards this year.
The list of semifinalists announced Wednesday will be sent to a panel of more than 600 judges — made up mainly of restaurant critics, food and wine editors, culinary educators and past James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Award winners — to whittle each category down to five nominees. The finalists are announced on March 15 and the winners will be announced May 1 in Chicago, according to the James Beard Foundation.
This year Massachusetts racked up 20 semifinalists – 14 in national categories and six in the regional "Best in the Northeast" award.
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Here's the full list of Massachusetts chefs and restaurants named James Beard Foundation Award semifinalists:
Best New Restaurant: Les Sablons, Cambridge
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Outstanding Baker: Maura Kilpatrick, Sofra Bakery and Café, Cambridge
Outstanding Bar Program: The Baldwin Bar, Woburn
Outstanding Chef: Joanne Chang, Flour Bakery + Cafe, Boston
Outstanding Pastry Chef: Renae Connolly, Benedetto
Outstanding Restaurant: O Ya, Boston
Outstanding Restauranteur: Garrett Harker, Boston (Eastern Standard Kitchen & Drinks, Island Creek Oyster Bar, Row 34, and others)
Ken Oringer, Boston (Uni, Little Donkey, Toro, and others)
Outstanding Service: Eastern Standard Kitchen & Drinks, Boston
Outstanding Wine Program: Taberna de Haro, Brookline
Grill 23 & Bar, Boston
Outstanding Wine, Beer, or Spirits Professional: JC Tetreault and Esther Tetreault, Trillium Brewing Company, Boston
Rising Star Chef of the Year: Irene Li, Mei Mei, Boston
Juan Pedrosa, Yvonne’s, Boston
Best Chef - Northeast: Karen Akunowicz, Myers + Chang, Boston
Unmi Abkin, Coco & The Cellar Bar, Easthampton
Tiffani Faison, Tiger Mama, Boston
Seizi Imura, Cafe Sushi
Tony Messina, Uni, Boston
Cassie Piuma, Sarma, Somerville
Image via Shutterstock
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