Restaurant News: James Beard Semi-Finalists Announced

By Melissa McEwen in Food on Feb 19, 2015 3:00PM

The James Beard Foundation has released its list of semi-finalists for their annual awards. The final winners will be announced at the gala on March 24, which will be held here in Chicago. The nominees include many Chicago restaurants:

Best New Restaurant:

42 Grams

Parachute

Outstanding Baker:

Judy Contino, Bittersweet Pastry

Dave and Megan Miller, Baker Miller Bakery & Millhouse

Outstanding Bar Program:

The Violet Hour

Outstanding Chef:

Carrie Nahabedian, Naha

Outstanding Pastry Chef:

Dana Cree, Blackbird

Amanda Rockman, Nico Osteria

Outstanding Restaurant:

Spiaggia

Outstanding Restaurateur

Kevin Boehm and Rob Katz, Boka Restaurant Group (Boka, Girl & the Goat, GT Fish & Oyster, Momotaro, and others)

Donnie Madia, One Off Hospitality Group (Blackbird, Avec, The Publican, and others)

Outstanding Service

North Pond

Topolobampo

Outstanding Wine Program

Sepia

Outstanding Wine, Spirits, or Beer Professional

Charles Joly, Crafthouse

Rising Star Chef of the Year

Tanya Baker, Boarding House

Christopher Teixeira, Homestead on the Roof

Best Chef: Great Lakes

Abraham Conlon, Fat Rice

Curtis Duffy, Grace

Paul Fehribach, Big Jones

Phillip Foss, EL Ideas

Brian Huston, Boltwood, Evanston, IL

Thomas Lents, Sixteen

Ryan McCaskey, Acadia

Paul Virant, Vie, Western Springs, IL

Erling Wu-Bower, Nico Osteria

Andrew Zimmerman, Sepia

For the full national list head over to Eater National.