Here are the local semifinalists for the James Beard Awards
New England is well represented on this year's list of nominated restaurants, chefs, and industry professionals.
The 2017 semifinalists for the James Beard Awards—one of the most prestigious awards in the restaurant and beverage industries—were announced by the James Beard Foundation on Wednesday. Industry members from Massachusetts raked in several nominations, as did members from Portland, Maine.
Some of the highlights include Cambridge restaurant Oleana, which earned nominations for Best Chef (Ana Sortun) and Best Pastry Chef (Maura Kilpatrick), and South End Italian wine bar SRV, which was nominated for Best New Restaurant.
Last year, despite a number of local nominees, pastry chef and Flour bakery owner Joanne Chang was the only winner from Massachusetts, taking home the award for Outstanding Baker. Chang is in the mix this year as well: Karen Akunowicz, a chef at Chang’s South End restaurant, Myers + Chang, received a nomination for Best Chef — Northeast.
The award winners will be announced at the James Beard Foundation Awards Gala in Chicago on May 1. Here are all of the New England-based semifinalists for this year’s awards.
The cremolata sundae at Oleana.
Best New Restaurant: Drifters Wife, Portland, Maine; SRV, Boston
Outstanding Baker: Alison Pray, Standard Baking Co., Portland, Maine
Outstanding Bar Program: The Baldwin Bar, Woburn, Massachusetts; The Portland Hunt + Alpine Club, Portland, Maine
Outstanding Chef: Ana Sortun, Oleana, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Outstanding Pastry Chef: Maura Kilpatrick, Oleana, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Ilma Lopez, Piccolo, Portland, Maine
Outstanding Restaurant: Chase’s Daily, Belfast, Maine; Fore Street, Portland, Maine
Outstanding Restaurateur: Garrett Harker, Boston (Eastern Standard Kitchen & Drinks, Island Creek Oyster Bar, Row 34, and others); Ken Oringer, Boston (Uni, Toro, Coppa, and others)
Outstanding Service: Eastern Standard Kitchen & Drinks, Boston
Outstanding Wine Program: O Ya, Boston
Outstanding Wine, Beer, or Spirits Professional: Rob Tod, Allagash Brewing Company, Portland, Maine; Chris Weld, Berkshire Mountain Distillers, Sheffield, Massachusetts
Rising Star Chef of the Year: Irene Li, Mei Mei, Boston; Juan Pedrosa, Yvonne’s, Boston; Cara Stadler, Tao Yuan, Brunswick, Maine
Grilled octopus at Yvonne’s in Boston.
Best Chef — Northeast:
Unmi Abkin, Coco & The Cellar Bar, Easthampton, Massachusetts
Karen Akunowicz, Myers + Chang, Boston
Tyler Anderson, Millwright’s, Simsbury, Connecticut
Mucuy Bolles and Christian Makay, Three Stones, Brattleboro, Vermont
Alex Crabb, Asta, Boston
Brian Hill, Francine Bistro, Camden, Maine
Jeffrey Lizotte, Present Company, Simsbury, Connecticut
Matt Louis, Moxy, Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Evan Mallett, Black Trumpet, Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Tony Messina, Uni, Boston
Ravin Nakjaroen, Long Grain, Camden, Maine
Cassie Piuma, Sarma, Somerville, Massachusetts
Susan Regis, Shepard, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Marc Sheehan, Loyal Nine, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Keiko Suzuki Steinberger, Suzuki’s Sushi Bar, Rockland, Maine
Benjamin Sukle, Birch, Providence, Rhode Island
Andrew Taylor and Mike Wiley, Eventide Oyster Co., Portland, Maine
Derek Wagner, Nick’s on Broadway, Providence, Rhode Island
Jordan Ware, Hen of the Wood, Burlington, Vermont
