Today, at an event out in Portland hosting the who's who of the...Portland food scene, the James Beard Foundation announced the final nominees for the 2011 James Beard Awards (the semifinalists were announced back in February). The award show and gala will take place in New York City on May 9, and as usual, we'll be there live to document the goings on.

Categories of note in the restaurant and chef:

Best new restaurant finalists: Jean-Georges Vongerichten's ABC Kitchen (NYC), Corey Lee's Benu (San Francisco, Stephanie Izard's Girl & the Goat (Chicago), Barbara Lynch's Menton (Boston), and Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisi's Torrisi Italian Specialties (NYC).

Outstanding Chef Award finalists: José Andrés (Minibar, Washington, D.C.), Gary Danko (Restaurant Gary Danko, San Francisco), Suzanne Goin (Lucques, Los Angeles), Paul Kahan (Blackbird, Chicago), and Charles Phan (The Slanted Door, San Francisco).

Outstanding Restaurant Award finalists: Blue Hill (NYC), Boulevard (San Francisco), Eleven Madison Park (NYC), Highlands Bar and Grill (Birmingham, AL), and Vetri (Philadelphia).

Rising Star Chef of the Year Award finalists: Aaron London (Ubuntu, Napa, CA), Thomas McNaughton (flour + water, San Francisco), Gabriel Rucker (Le Pigeon, Portland, OR), Christina Tosi (Momofuku Milk Bar, NYC), and Sue Zemanick (Gautreau’s, New Orleans).

The full list of nominees below:

2011 James Beard Foundation Design and Graphics Awards

Winners will be announced on May 9, 2011

Outstanding Restaurant Design

For the best restaurant design or renovation in North America since January 1, 2008

Design Firm: Aidlin Darling Design

Designers: Joshua Aidlin, Roslyn Cole, and David Darling

Project: Bar Agricole, San Francisco

Design Firm: Bestor Architecture

Designers: Barbara Bestor, John Colter, and Cathy Johnson

Project: Pitfire Pizza, Los Angeles

Design Firm: Natoma Architects Inc.

Designer: Stanley Saitowitz

Project: Toast, Novato, CA

Outstanding Restaurant Graphics

For the best restaurant graphics executed in North America since January 1, 2008

Design Firm: Katie Barcelona

Designer: Katie Barcelona

Project: L’Artusi, NYC

Design Firm: Love and War

Designer: Katie Tully

Project: The National Bar & Dining Rooms, NYC

Design Firm: JNL Graphic Design

Designers: Donald Madia and Jason Pickleman

Project: The Publican, Chicago



2011 James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards

Winners will be announced on May 9, 2011



Best New Restaurant

Presented by Mercedes-Benz

A restaurant opened in 2010 that already displays excellence in food, beverage, and service and is likely to have a significant impact on the industry in years to come.

ABC Kitchen

NYC

Chef/Owner: Jean-Georges Vongerichten

Owner: Phil Suarez

Benu

San Francisco

Chef/Owner: Corey Lee

Girl & the Goat

Chicago

Chef/Owner: Stephanie Izard

Owners: Kevin Boehm, Rob Katz, and Daniel Russo

Menton

Boston

Chef/Owner: Barbara Lynch

Torrisi Italian Specialties

NYC

Chefs/Owners: Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisi



Outstanding Chef Award

Presented by All-Clad Metalcrafters

A working chef in America whose career has set national industry standards and who has served as an inspiration to other food professionals. Candidates must have been working as chefs for at least the past 5 years.

José Andrés

Minibar

Washington, D.C.

Gary Danko

Restaurant Gary Danko

San Francisco

Suzanne Goin

Lucques

Los Angeles

Paul Kahan

Blackbird

Chicago

Charles Phan

The Slanted Door

San Francisco



Outstanding Pastry Chef Award

Presented by All-Clad Metalcrafters

A chef or baker who prepares desserts, pastries, or breads and who serves as a national standard-bearer for excellence. Candidates must have been pastry chefs or bakers for at least the past 5 years.

Joanne Chang

Flour Bakery + Café

Boston

Patrick Fahy

Blackbird

Chicago

Dahlia Narvaez

Osteria Mozza

Los Angeles

Angela Pinkerton

Eleven Madison Park

NYC

Mindy Segal

Mindy’s HotChocolate

Chicago



Outstanding Restaurant Award

A restaurant in the United States that serves as a national standard-bearer for consistent quality and excellence in food, atmosphere, and service. Candidates must have been in operation for at least 10 or more consecutive years.

Blue Hill

NYC

Chef/Owner: Dan Barber

Owners: David Barber and Laureen Barber

Boulevard

San Francisco

Chef/Owner: Nancy Oakes

Owner: Pat Kuleto

Eleven Madison Park

NYC

Owner: Danny Meyer

Highlands Bar and Grill

Birmingham, AL

Chef/Owner: Frank Stitt

Owner: Pardis Stitt

Vetri

Philadelphia

Chefs/Owners: Marc Vetri and Jeff Benjamin



Outstanding Restaurateur Award

A working restaurateur who sets high national standards in restaurant operations and entrepreneurship. Candidates must have been in the restaurant business for at least 10 years. Candidates must not have been nominated for a James Beard Foundation chef award in the past 10 years.

Bruce Bromberg and Eric Bromberg

Blue Ribbon Restaurants

NYC

Tom Douglas

Dahlia Bakery, Dahlia Lounge, Etta’s, Lola, Palace Kitchen, Seatown Seabar & Rotisserie, and Serious Pie

Seattle

Pat Kuleto

Boulevard, Epic Roasthouse, Farallon, Jardinière, Martini House, Nick's Cove, and Waterbar

San Francisco

Richard Melman

Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises

Chicago

Phil Suarez

ABC Kitchen, Co., Gigino Trattoria, Gigino Wagner Park, Jean Georges, JoJo, J&G Steakhouse, Market, The Mark Restaurant by Jean Georges, Mercer Kitchen, Perry St, Pipa, Prime Steakhouse, Spice Market, and wd~50

Various Cities



Outstanding Service Award

Presented By Stella Artois

A restaurant that demonstrates high standards of hospitality and service. Candidates must have been in operation for at least the past 5 years.

Canlis

Seattle

Owners: Brian Canlis and Mark Canlis

Emeril’s

New Orleans

Chef/Owner: Emeril Lagasse

La Grenouille

NYC

Owners: Charles Masson and Gisèle Masson

Per Se

NYC

Chef/Owner: Thomas Keller

Topolobampo

Chicago

Chef/Owner: Rick Bayless



Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional Award

Presented by Southern Wine & Spirits of New York

A winemaker, brewer, or spirits professional who has had a significant impact on the wine and spirits industry nationwide. Candidates must have been in the profession for at least 5 years.

Sam Calagione

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

Milton, DE

Merry Edwards

Merry Edwards Winery

Sebastopol, CA

Paul Grieco

Hearth

NYC

Rajat Parr

Mina Group

San Francisco

Julian P. Van Winkle, III

Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery

Louisville, KY



Outstanding Wine Service Award

A restaurant that displays and encourages excellence in wine service through a well-presented wine list, a knowledgeable staff, and efforts to educate customers about wine. Candidates must have been in operation for at least 5 years.

A16

San Francisco

Wine Director: Shelley Lindgren

Blackberry Farm

Walland, TN

Wine Director: Andy Chabot

Frasca Food and Wine

Boulder, CO

Wine Director: Bobby Stuckey

Picasso at Bellagio

Las Vegas

Wine Director: Robert Smith

The Modern

NYC

Wine Director: Belinda Chang



Rising Star Chef of the Year Award

A chef age 30 or younger who displays an impressive talent and who is likely to have a significant impact on the industry in years to come.

Aaron London

Ubuntu

Napa, CA

Thomas McNaughton

flour + water

San Francisco

Gabriel Rucker

Le Pigeon

Portland, OR

Christina Tosi

Momofuku Milk Bar

NYC

Sue Zemanick

Gautreau’s

New Orleans



Best Chefs in America

Presented by Groupon

Chefs who have set new or consistent standards of excellence in their respective regions. Each candidate may be employed by any kind of dining establishment and must have been a working chef for at least the past 5 years. The 3 most recent years must have been spent in the region where the chef is presently working.



Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)

Michael Carlson

Schwa

Chicago

Curtis Duffy

Avenues at the Peninsula

Chicago

Bruce Sherman

North Pond

Chicago

Paul Virant

Vie

Western Springs, IL

Alex Young

Zingerman's Roadhouse

Ann Arbor, MI



Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (D.C., DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)

Cathal Armstrong

Restaurant Eve

Alexandria, VA

Johnny Monis

Komi

Washington, D.C.

Peter Pastan

Obelisk

Washington, D.C.

Maricel Presilla

Cucharamama

Hoboken, NJ

Michael Solomonov

Zahav

Philadelphia



Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI)

Justin Aprahamian

Sanford

Milwaukee

Isaac Becker

112 Eatery

Minneapolis

Colby Garrelts

Bluestem

Kansas City, MO

Tory Miller

L’Etoile

Madison, WI

Lenny Russo

Heartland

St. Paul, MN



Best Chef: New York City (Five Boroughs)

Michael Anthony

Gramercy Tavern

April Bloomfield

The Spotted Pig

Wylie Dufresne

wd~50

Gabrielle Hamilton

Prune

Michael White

Marea



Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, NY STATE, RI, VT)

Tim Cushman

o ya

Boston

Krista Kern Desjarlais

Bresca

Portland, ME

Gerry Hayden

The North Fork Table & Inn

Southold, NY

Matt Jennings

La Laiterie

Providence

Tony Maws

Craigie On Main

Cambridge, MA

Eric Warnstedt

Hen of the Wood

Waterbury, VT



Best Chef: Northwest (AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY)

Matt Dillon

Sitka & Spruce

Seattle

Christopher Israel

Grüner

Portland, OR

Andy Ricker

Pok Pok

Portland, OR

Ethan Stowell

Staple & Fancy Mercantile

Seattle

Cathy Whims

Nostrana

Portland, OR



Best Chef: Pacific (CA, HI)

Michael Cimarusti

Providence

Los Angeles

Christopher Kostow

The Restaurant at Meadowood

St. Helena, CA

Daniel Patterson

COI

San Francisco

Richard Reddington

Redd

Yountville, CA

Michael Tusk

Quince

San Francisco



Best Chef: South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS)

Zach Bell

Café Boulud at the Brazilian Court

Palm Beach, FL

John Harris

Lilette

New Orleans

Christopher Hastings

Hot and Hot Fish Club

Birmingham, AL

Tory McPhail

Commander’s Palace

New Orleans

Stephen Stryjewski

Cochon

New Orleans



Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)

Hugh Acheson

Five and Ten

Athens, GA

Craig Deihl

Cypress

Charleston, SC

John Fleer

Canyon Kitchen at Lonesome Valley

Cashiers, NC

Linton Hopkins

Restaurant Eugene

Atlanta

Edward Lee

610 Magnolia

Louisville, KY

Andrea Reusing

Lantern

Chapel Hill, NC



Best Chef: Southwest (AZ, CO, NM, NV, OK, TX, UT)

Bruce Auden

Biga on the Banks

San Antonio

Bryan Caswell

Reef

Houston

Saipin Chutima

Lotus of Siam

Las Vegas

Tyson Cole

Uchi

Austin, TX

Ryan Hardy

Montagna at the Little Nell

Aspen, CO



2011 James Beard Foundation Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America Inductees

Jonathan Gold

Writer, LA Weekly

Los Angeles

Lee Jones

Farmer/ Owner, Chef's Garden

Huron, OH

Charles Phan

Chef/Owner, The Slanted Door

San Francisco

Frank Stitt

Chef/Owner, Highlands Bar and Grill

Birmingham, AL

Nick Valenti

CEO, Patina Restaurant Group

NYC

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