NYC Restaurants: James Beard Awards + Cocaine Jumbo Shrimp Edition

NEW YORK CITY — James Beard and cocaine shrimp.

Those were two big food news headlines from New York City this past week.

But those weren't the only morsels that Patch's small, but ravenous newsroom gobbled up for our dear readers.

Come back next week for a heaping serving of more.

Some restaurants in New York City's crowded food scene are just a cut above.

The James Beard Foundation announced 31 city eateries and chefs are semifinalists for its prestigious 2024 awards.

The semifinalists hailed from across Brooklyn, including Bed-Stuy, Harlem and the Upper West Side.

"We are thrilled for the return of the James Beard Awards—recognizing the outstandingly talented leaders making their mark on American food," Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation, said in a news release.

• 31 NYC Restaurants, Chefs Named 2024 James Beard Semifinalists
• 8 Brooklyn Restaurants, Chefs Named 2024 James Beard Semifinalists
• Bed-Stuy Chef, Bar Named 2024 James Beard Semifinalists
• Upper West Side Restaurant Named As James Beard Semifinalist
  
• Harlem Sweeps James Beard Awards Semifinals List

A cult European grocery chain is expanding its foothold in Queens.

Lidl opened its second Queens location this past week.

The chain, which offers low prices and premium private-label foods, now has four stores in the city.

And something new could be rising at a popular Brooklyn bakery: a union contract.

She Wolf workers recently filed for a union election.

"Only by strengthening the material position of the workers will we be able to expand our production while still maintaining the handcrafted, high quality of our bread," one worker said.

• Lidl Opens Second Queens Location As Grocery Chain Expands
• She Wolf Bakery Workers Cook Up Union Plan, Move Toward Election

A JFK Airport traveler had a peppy, illegal ingredient — cocaine — hidden in bags of frozen jumbo shrimp inside his luggage, authorities said.

Zacharie Scott, 22, acted as a drug mule to transport the cocaine from Guyana this past week, federal authorities said.

A search by Customs and Border Protection agents led to the jumbo discovery of nearly 40 pounds of suspected cocaine nestled in with the shrimp, officials said.

And health inspectors ordered restaurants closed in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens.

• Cocaine Smuggled In Jumbo Shrimp Bags Inside JFK Traveler's Luggage
• NYC Restaurants Ordered Closed Jan. 19-26