James Beard Semifinalists Include Austin Culinary Players

AUSTIN, TX — The James Beard Foundation has released its list of semifinalists — including a trio in Austin — for its 30th annual culinary awards competition.

Semifinalists announced Wednesday by the prestigious James Beard Foundation include a local baker, restaurateur and beer producer that were each labeled as "outstanding" among their counterparts nationwide. Now in their third decade, the awards are considered the gold standard — the Oscar Awards of the culinary world, if you will — in the hospitality industry.

Semifinalists are placed in 11 categories: Best new restaurant; outstanding restaurant; outstanding baker; outstanding pastry chef; outstanding chef; rising chef stars age 30 or younger; outstanding bar program; outstanding wine program; outstanding wine, beer or spirits producer; outstanding restaurateur; and outstanding hospitality.

James Beard Foundation Semifinalists: The Full List

In Austin, the semifinalists are:

• Larry McGuire of McGuire Moorman Hospitality (of Jeffrey's, Perla's and Pool Burger fame) in the "Outstanding Restaurateur" category.
• Jeffrey Stuffings and Michael Stuffings of Jester King Brewery, named semifinalists in the "Outstanding Wine, Beer or Spirits Producer" category.
• David Norman of Easy Tiger Bake Shop & Beer Garden, in the "Outstanding Baker" category.

The list of semifinalists was voted on by more than 600 judges from across the country. The same group of judges — comprising leading regional restaurant critics, food and wine editors, culinary instructors and past James Beard winners — vote to determine the finalists. The votes are tabulated by independent auditors from EisnerAmper.

Finalists in all categories will be announced at a news conference at 9 a.m. EDT on March 25, with the winners announced in May.

Others from Texas made the semifinalists cut, including:

• The Blind Goat and Squable, both from Houston, in the "Best New Restaurant" category along with Salaryman of Dallas.
• Clyde Greenhouse, Kessler Baking Studio, in Dallas in the "Outstanding Baker" field.
• In the "Outstanding Bar Program" category, Anvil Bar & Refuge in Houston Las Almas Rotas in Dallas both were named semifinalists.
• Justin Yu of Theodore Rex restaurant in Houston secured a slot in the "Outstanding Chef" category.
• Hugo's in Houston was among those listed in the "Outstanding Hospitality" section.
• Vying for "Outstanding Pastry Chef" is Maggie Huff of Homewood in Dallas.
• The storied Original Ninfa's on Navigation in Houston clinched a semifinalist berth as "Outstanding Restaurant."
• Tracy Vaught of the H Town Restaurant Group in Houston (Hugo's, Xochi, Caracol and others) is a semifinalist for "Outstanding Restaurateur."
• The "Outstanding Wine Program" category included Rosie Cannonball of Houston.
• Competing in the "Outstanding Wine, Beer or Spirits Producer" category is Kim McPherson of McPherson Cellars in Lubbock, Texas.
• And competing for "Rising Star Chef of the Year" is Bria Downey of Clay Pigeon Food & Drink in Fort Worth, Texas.