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News Wed Feb 18 2015
Chicago Lights Up Beard Semifinalist List
The semifinalists for the James Beard Awards, which will be held May 4th at the Civic Opera House (the first time the ceremony hasn't been held in New York, by the way), were announced this morning.
The list has some nice local talent:
- Best New Restaurant: 42 Grams and Parachute
- Outstanding Baker: Bittersweet's Judy Contino and ex-Bang Bang Pie's Dave and Megan Miller (now of Baker Miller Bakery & Millhouse)
- Outstanding Bar Program: The Violet Hour
- Outstanding Chef: Carrie Nahabedian (Naha)
- Outstanding Pastry Chef: Blackbird's Dana Cree and Nico Osteria's Amanda Rockman
- Outstanding Restaurant: Spiaggia
- Outstanding Restaurateur: Kevin Boehm and Rob Katz of Boka Restaurant Group (Boka, GT Fish & Oyster, Balena, Girl and the Goat); Donnie Madia of One Off Hospitality Group (Blackbird, Big Star, Dove's Luncheonette, Nico Osteria, The Publican)
- Outstanding Service: North Pond Cafe; Topolobampo
- Outstanding Wine Program: Sepia
- Outstanding Wine, Beer, or Spirits Professional: Charles Joly (Crafthouse, formerly of the Aviary)
- Rising Star 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); Thomas Lents (Sixteen); Ryan McCaskey (Acadia); Erling Wu-Bower (Nico Osteria); Andrew Zimmerman (Sepia)
Outside of Chicago also got some nice attention, with nominations for Paul Virant (Vie, Western Springs), Brian Huston (Evanston's Boltwood), and Eric Heath (Edwardsville's Cleveland-Heath).
