Sawyer nominated for 2015 Beard Award Named among chefs in Great Lakes region

Jonathon Sawyer, has been named a finalist for the 2015 James Beard Foundation's "Best Chef: Great Lakes" awards category. Sawyer, owner of Trentina restaurant in University Circle, is shown here in the lobby of the restaurant.

(Thomas Ondrey, The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Jonathon Sawyer, chef-owner of The Greenhouse Tavern, Noodlecat and Trentina restaurant, has been named a finalist for the 2015 James Beard Awards.

Sawyer's name was among the five finalists named as nominees in the "Best Chef: Great Lakes" awards category, during a breakfast ceremony at the James Beard House in New York City.

Sawyer is the only Clevelander among the category finalists. The other nominees are all from Illinois, three of them representing Chicago restaurants: Andrew Zimmerman, Sepia; Curtis Duffy, Grace; and Erling Wu-Bower, Nico Osteria. Paul Virant of Vie restaurant in Western Springs, Illinois rounds out the list of finalists.



By text message from New York City, Sawyer expressed his pleasure in making it to the final docket of nominees.

"Just OMG," Sawyer said. He was on the set of ABC-TV's daytime hit show "The Chew," taping a segment with series co-star and Cleveland chef Michael Symon - himself a Beard Awards winner.

Later in the day, Sawyer explained the ongoing stress that accompanies being a repeat nominee. He was previously nominated in the "Best Chefs: Great Lakes" category for 2014, 2013 and 2012, and earned "Rising Star Chef" nominations in both 2011 and 2010.

"Every year, I get more and more nervous we're not going to make it, not be named," Sawyer said. "I suppose it should go the other way, as time goes on, but instead the tension builds - I get more anxious and excited every year.

"But that also just motivates you to keep working, to work hard. In the final analysis, it's not a mystery. It's just hard work."

Winners in nearly 60 awards categories will be announced Monday, May 4, the 25th James Beard Foundation Awards Ceremony and Gala Reception will be held at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, hosted by Alton Brown. This is the first year the ceremony will be held outside of New York City.

During the event, which is open to the public, awards for the Restaurant and Chef - including America's Classics and Restaurant Design categories - will be handed out. Additionally, special achievement awards including Humanitarian of the Year, Lifetime Achievement and Who's Who of Food and Beverage in America.

The annual gala reception will immediately follow, featuring top chefs and beverage professionals from across the country.

In a separate ceremony set for Friday, April 24, the JBF Book, Broadcast, and Journalism Awards Dinner will honor the nation's top cookbook authors, culinary broadcast producers and hosts, and food journalists. Hosted by author and "The Chew" co-host Carla Hall, that event will take place at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York City.

For tickets or additional information about the James Beard Awards, visit jamesbeard.org/awards/event-details

UPDATED 4:17 P.M. TUESDAY