Beard Award Ballots Sent to Judges: Vote Early and Often

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Feb 14, 2008 2:00PM

New York magazine got their hands on a copy of this year's James Beard award ballots (check it out for yourself here) and as usual, our city's restaurants are well-represented.

Lettuce Entertain You jefe Rich Melman is in the running for "Outstanding Restaurateur," while Grant Achatz and Everest's Jean Joho are in the running for "Outstanding Chef." Arun's is the only local restaurant nominated for the coveted "Outstanding Restaurant" category, and Sepia was nominated for "Best New Restaurant."

The "Best Chef: Great Lakes" category is stocked with loads of local talent, including Avenues' departing Graham Elliot Bowles, Kendal Duque of Sepia, Paul Virant of Vie in Western Springs, NAHA's Carrie Nahabedian, Suzy Crofton of Crofton on Wells and Guiseppe Tentori of Boka. Finally, our city's pastry chefs are only represented by Hot Chocolate's Mindy Segal in the "Outstanding Pastry Chef" category.