Where to Eat Now: James Beard Award Finalists Announced

by Carrie N. Culpepper (RSS feed)
Mar 26th 2010 at 11:01AM

Chefs, sharpen your knives, the food community is abuzz with news of the 2010 James Beard Award nominations, which were announced earlier this week. Aside from Michelin stars and positive restaurant reviews, these awards are the biggest recognition in the food world. Chosen by a non-profit made up of food and wine enthusiasts, the awards take a nationwide look at the dining scene pulling out the stars of today and tomorrow. What that means to you is: Make your reservations now -- especially at Robert DeNiro's latest New York restaurant, Locanda Verde (right) -- these places are about to get hotter.

Anyone can attend the black-tie Chef and Restaurant Awards which take place on May 3 at Lincoln Center in New York. Tickets are $450 for non-members and include the awards ceremony hosted by The Food Network's Alton Brown, Wolfgang Puck and PBS chef Lidia Bastianich (whose cookbook "Lidia Cooks from the Heart of Italy" is up for a nomination). But the best part will be the gala reception afterward where guests can sample food by notable chefs from around the country who were chosen by a past Outstanding Chef winner.

And the nominees are ...

Here's a selection of the Chef and Restaurant Award nominees, for a full list visit the James Beard Awards site.

Best New Restaurant
Bibou, Philadelphia
Chef/Owners: Pierre and Charlotte Calmels

Flour + Water, San Francisco
Chef/Partner: Thomas McNaughton
Partners: David White and David Steele

Frances, San Francisco
Chef/Owner: Melissa Perello

Locanda Verde, NYC
Chef/Owner: Andrew Carmellini

Marea, NYC (pictured below)
Chef/Partner: Michael White
Partner: Chris Cannon

RN74, San Francisco
Chef: Jason Berthold
Owners: Michael Mina and Rajat Parr

Outstanding Chef Award
José Andrés
Minibar, Washington, D.C.

Tom Colicchio
Craft, NYC

Gary Danko
Restaurant Gary Danko, San Francisco

Suzanne Goin
Lucques, Los Angeles

Charles Phan
The Slanted Door, San Francisco

Outstanding Pastry Chef Award
Amanda Cook
CityZen at Mandarin Orienta, Washington, D.C.

Michelle Gayer
Salty Tart Bakery, Minneapolis

Kamel Guechida
Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas

Nicole Plue
Redd, Yountville, CA

Mindy Segal
Mindy's HotChocolate, Chicago

Outstanding Restaurant Award
Babbo, NYC
Chef/Owner: Mario Batali
Owner: Joseph Bastianich

Boulevard, San Francisco
Chef/Owner: Nancy Oakes
Owner: Pat Kuleto

Daniel, NYC
Chef/Owner: Daniel Boulud

Highlands Bar & Grill, Birmingham, AL
Chef/Owner: Frank Stitt
Owner: Pardis Stitt

Spiaggia, Chicago
Chef/Partner: Tony Mantuano

Outstanding Restaurateur Award
Tom Douglas
Dahlia Bakery, Dahlia Lounge, Etta's, Lola, Palace Kitchen,

Serious Pie
Seattle

Pat Kuleto
Boulevard, Epic, Farallon, Jardinière, Martini House, Nick's

Cove & Cottages, and Waterbar
San Francisco

Keith McNally
Balthazar, Lucky Strike, Minetta Tavern, Morandi, Pastis, Pravda, and Schiller's Liquor Bar
NYC

Richard Melman
Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises
Chicago

Stephen Starr
Starr Restaurant Organization
Philadelphia

Rising Star Chef of the Year Award
Timothy Hollingsworth
The French Laundry, Yountville, CA

Johnny Monis
Komi, Washington, D.C.

Grégory Pugin
Veritas, NYC

Gabriel Rucker
Le Pigeon, Portland, OR

Sue Zemanick
Gautreau's, New Orleans

To see the nominees for Best Chefs by Region and the rest of the nominees, including cookbook and food writing categories, visit the James Beard Foundation Awards site.

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