The 2017 James Beard Nominees

Check out the full list of chefs, restaurant owners and more

The James Beard Foundation just announced this year's nominees for the awards, which will be presented on May 1 in Chicago. Last month, the long list of semifinalists dropped, but this announcement narrows the field. The list has fewer surprises and more recognized names. In the Best New Restaurant category, Tartine Manufactory, which has been open only since August, nabs a spot right next to New York favorites Le Coucou and Olmsted. Notably, none of the nominees in that category are particularly formal—at least not in a traditional way. Pineapple and Pearls, Aaron Silverman's D.C. tasting menu destination, is pushing forward the idea of a more modern fine dining experience.

A few other things to note: In the Rising Star chef category, two of the five nominees are working in Israeli restaurants, Camille Cogswell at Zahav and Zachary Engel at Shaya, further bolstering the argument that Middle Eastern food is one of the cuisines of the moment. In New York, Anita Lo nabs a nomination less than two months after announcing she will close her restaurant, Annisa.


Check out the full list of nominees below and stay tuned for the winners in May.

Le Coucou | Photo: Corry Arnold

2017 James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards

Best New Restaurant 

A restaurant opened in the calendar year before the award will be given that already displays excellence in food, beverage, and service, and that is likely to make a significant impact in years to come.

In Situ, San Francisco

Le Coucou, NYC

Olmsted, Brooklyn, NY

Pineapple and Pearls, Washington, D.C.

Tartine Manufactory, San Francisco

Outstanding Baker

A chef or baker who prepares breads, pastries, or desserts in a retail bakery, and who serves as a national standard-bearer of excellence. Must have been working as a baker or pastry chef for at least five years.

Ken Forkish

Ken's Artisan Bakery

Portland, OR

Mark Furstenberg

Bread Furst

Washington, D.C.

Zachary Golper

Bien Cuit

Brooklyn, NY

Belinda Leong and Michel Suas

b. Patisserie

San Francisco

Greg Wade

Publican Quality Bread

Chicago

Outstanding Bar Program

A restaurant or bar that demonstrates excellence in cocktail, spirits, and/or beer service.

Arnaud's French 75 Bar, New Orleans

Bar Agricole, San Francisco

Clyde Common, Portland, OR

Cure, New Orleans

The Dead Rabbit, NYC

Outstanding Chef 

A working chef in America whose career has set national industry standards and who has served as an inspiration to other food professionals. Must have been working as a chef for the past five years.

Gabrielle Hamilton

Prune

NYC

David Kinch

Manresa

Los Gatos, CA

Christopher Kostow

The Restaurant at Meadowood

St. Helena, CA

Donald Link

Herbsaint

New Orleans

Michael Solomonov

Zahav

Philadelphia

Le Coucou | Photo: Corry Arnold

Outstanding Pastry Chef 

A chef or baker who prepares desserts, pastries, or breads in a restaurant, and who serves as a national standard bearer of excellence. Must have been working as a pastry chef or baker for the past five years.

Kelly Fields

Willa Jean

New Orleans

Maura Kilpatrick

Oleana

Cambridge, MA

Margarita Manzke

République

Los Angeles

Dolester Miles

Highlands Bar & Grill

Birmingham, AL

Ghaya Oliveira

Daniel

NYC

Outstanding Restaurant

A restaurant in the United States that serves as a national standard bearer of consistent quality and excellence in food, atmosphere and service. Must have been in operation 10 or more consecutive years.

Frasca Food and Wine, Boulder, CO

Highlands Bar and Grill, Birmingham, AL

Momofuku Noodle Bar, NYC

Quince, San Francisco

The Spotted Pig, NYC

Topolobampo, Chicago

Outstanding Restaurateur

A working restaurateur who sets high national standards in restaurant operations and entrepreneurship. Must have been in the restaurant business for at least 10 years. Must not have been nominated for a James Beard Foundation chef award in the past five years.

Kevin Boehm and Rob Katz

Boka Restaurant Group (Boka, Girl & the Goat, Momotaro, and others)

Chicago

JoAnn Clevenger

Upperline

New Orleans

Ken Oringer

Uni, Toro, Coppa, and others

Boston

Stephen Starr

Starr Restaurants (Le Coucou, Serpico, Upland, and others)

Philadelphia

Caroline Styne

The Lucques Group (Lucques, a.o.c., Tavern, and others)

Los Angeles

Outstanding Service

A restaurant in operation five or more years that demonstrates high standards of hospitality and service.

Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Pocantico Hills, NY

Galatoire's Restaurant, New Orleans

Marea, NYC

Terra, St. Helena, CA

Zahav, Philadelphia

Outstanding Wine Program

A restaurant in operation five or more years that serves as a standard bearer for excellence in wine service through a well-presented wine list, knowledgeable staff, and efforts to educate customers about wine.

Benu, San Francisco

Canlis, Seattle

Emeril's, New Orleans

Fig, Charleston, SC

Miller Union, Atlanta

Outstanding Wine, Beer, or Spirits Professional

A beer, wine, or spirits professional who has made a significant national impact on the restaurant industry.

Sam Calagione

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

Milton, DE

Diane Flynt

Foggy Ridge Cider

Dugspur, VA

Miljenko Grgich

Grgich Hills Estate

Rutherford, CA

Aldo Sohm

Zalto Glass

NYC

Rob Tod

Allagash Brewing Company

Portland, ME

Rising Star Chef of the Year

A chef age 30 or younger who displays an impressive talent and who is likely to make a significant impact on the industry in years to come.

Camille Cogswell

Zahav

Philadelphia

Zachary Engel

Shaya

New Orleans

Matt Rudofker

Momofuku Ssäm Bar

NYC

Jenner Tomaska

Next

Chicago

Brady Williams

Canlis

Seattle

Best Chefs

Chefs who have set new or consistent standards of excellence in their respective regions. Eligible candidates may be from any kind of dining establishment and must have been working as a chef for at least five years, with the three most recent years spent in the region.

Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)

Abraham Conlon

Fat Rice

Chicago

Sarah Grueneberg

Monteverde

Chicago

Beverly Kim and Johnny Clark

Parachute

Chicago

Lee Wolen

Boka

Chicago

Erling Wu-Bower

Nico Osteria

Chicago

Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (D.C., DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)

Amy Brandwein

Centrolina

Washington, D.C.

Tom Cunanan

Bad Saint

Washington, D.C.

Rich Landau

Vedge

Philadelphia

Greg Vernick

Vernick Food & Drink

Philadelphia

Cindy Wolf

Charleston

Baltimore

Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI)

Steven Brown

Tilia

Minneapolis

Justin Carlisle

Ardent

Milwaukee

Jorge Guzman

Brewer's Table at Surly Brewing Co.

Minneapolis

Kevin Nashan

Sidney Street Cafe

St. Louis

Kevin Willmann

Farmhaus

St. Louis

Best Chef: New York City (Five Boroughs)

Marco Canora

Hearth

Anita Lo

Annisa

Ignacio Mattos

Estela

Missy Robbins

Lilia

Jody Williams

Buvette Gastrothèque

Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, MH, NY STATE, RI, VT)

Karen Akunowicz

Myers + Chang

Boston

Cassie Piuma

Sarma

Somerville, MA

Susan Regis

Shepard

Cambridge, MA

Benjamin Sukle

Birch

Providence, RI

Andrew Taylor and Mike Wiley

Eventide Oyster Co.

Portland, ME

Best Chef: Northwest (AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY)

Greg Denton and Gabrielle Quiñónez Denton

Ox

Portland, OR

Edouardo Jordan

Salare

Seattle

Katy Millard

Coquine

Portland, OR

Justin Woodward

Castagna

Portland, OR

Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi

Joule

Seattle

Best Chef: South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS, PR)

Vishwesh Bhatt

Snackbar

Oxford, MS

Nina Compton

Compère Lapin

New Orleans

Jose Enrique

Jose Enrique

San Juan, PR

Slade Rushing

Brennan's

New Orleans

Rebecca Wilcomb

Herbsaint

New Orleans

Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)

John Fleer

Rhubarb

Asheville, NC

Edward Lee

610 Magnolia

Louisville, KY

Steven Satterfield

Miller Union

Atlanta

Ryan Smith

Staplehouse

Atlanta

Andrew Ticer and Michael Hudman

Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen

Memphis

Best Chef: Southwest (AZ, CO, NM, OK, TX, UT)

Bryce Gilmore

Barley Swine

Austin

Steve McHugh

Cured

San Antonio

Hugo Ortega

Hugo's

Houston

Steve Redzikowski

Acorn

Denver

Martín Rios

Restaurant Martín

Santa Fe

Jianyun Ye

Mala Sichuan Bistro

Houston

Best Chef: West (CA, HI, NV)

Michael Cimarusti

Providence

Los Angeles

Dominique Crenn

Atelier Crenn

San Francisco

Jeremy Fox

Rustic Canyon Wine Bar and Seasonal Kitchen

Santa Monica, CA

Corey Lee

Benu

San Francisco

Ludo Lefebvre

Trois Mec

Los Angeles

Travis Lett

Gjelina

Venice, CA