This NJ Chef Was Just Nominated For Prestigious James Beard Award

NEW JERSEY — The culinary scene in New Jersey is well-represented in the 2025 Restaurant and Chef Awards nominees announced Wednesday by the James Beard Foundation.

2025 is an important milestone for the James Beard Foundation: It’s the 35th anniversary of the awards, considered to be among the nation’s most prestigious honors. Awards will be presented in 25 categories this year with an expanded focus on cocktail and beverage service.

Among the nominees in the Mid-Atlantic region, chef and author Dan Richer of Jersey City has clinched a nomination.

Richer owns and runs Razza, the often lauded pizzeria in Jersey City's Grove Street area.

Razza has been receiving plaudits for its thin-crust pizzas York Times wrote about it in 2017 in an article asking, "Is New York's Best Pizza In New Jersey?"

Their pizzas range from the classic Margherita to Project Hazelnut and are baked with local ingredients.

Richer has also published a book about pizza-making, "The Joy of Pizza."

Jersey City has been rapidly redeveloping and was named among the "Next Great Food Cities" in 2022 by Food & Wine Magazine.

The James Beard Awards, first presented in 1991, recognize talent in the culinary and food media industries and are often regarded as the “Oscars of culinary arts.” They recognize a range of experiences, from fine-dining restaurants to casual gems, in 22 categories.

Winners will be announced Monday, June 16, in a ceremony at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.