Tag Archives: James Beard Awards

Food, Restaurant

Finalists Announced for 2012 James Beard Awards

Today brings an update on the James Beard Award nominations, as the large field of semifinalists got narrowed down to finalists.

With winners to be announced on May 7, Seattle can be proud that perennial candidate Tom Douglas is again in the running for Outstanding Restaurateur. But again this year, Portland outflanks our city in terms of finalists in the Best Chef Northwest category:

  • Matt Dillon, Sitka and Spruce, Seattle
  • Jason Franey, Canlis, Seattle
  • Christopher Israel, Grüner, Portland
  • Naomi Pomeroy, Beast, Portland
  • Cathy Whims, Nostrana, Portland

This is again a tough field. I give early odds to Franey as the favorite, though Cathy Whims could provide an upset. I’ve enjoyed her food at Nostrana, and plan to check out her new Oven & Shaker in the next few days. Look for a report on that and my volcanic hamburger at Grüner in the next few weeks.

Bar, Food, Restaurant

Semifinalists Announced for 2012 James Beard Awards

It’s awards season, and the Seattle food scene is again abuzz about the just-announced James Beard Award nominations. Today we learned who the semifinalists are, with that list getting whittled down to finalists on March 19, and winners announced on May 7.

The full list is well-worth a look. On the national level, Altura earned a nomination as best new restaurant. (I agree!) Canlis cashes in for both Best Restaurant and Best Wine Program categories. Perennial participant Tom Douglas is a semifinalist for Outstanding Restaurateur, Holly Smith for Outstanding Chef, and Blaine Wetzel for Rising Star Chef (meaning under 30). In the new Outstanding Bar Program, Zig Zag Cafe represents Seattle.

Especially interesting is the Best Chef Northwest category, which this year features interesting semifinalists from Seattle and further afield in Washington state:

  • Chris Ainsworth, Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen (Walla Walla)
  • Matt Costello, Inn at Langley (Langley)
  • Matt Dillon, Sitka and Spruce
  • Renee Erickson, Boat Street Cafe
  • Jason Franey, Canlis
  • Ethan Stowell, Staple and Fancy Mercantile
  • Jason Stratton, Spinasse
  • Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi, Joule

I’m always curious about the Portland nominees, and the list there is also solid (including three from elsewhere in Oregon):

  • Aaron Barnett, St. Jack
  • Matthew Bennet, Sybaris (Albany)
  • John Gorham, Toro Bravo
  • Christopher Israel, Grüner
  • Brendan Mahaney, Belly (Eugene)
  • Naomi Pomeroy, Beast
  • Adam Sappington, The Country Cat Dinner House & Bar
  • Cathy Whims, Nostrana
  • Justin Wills, Restaurant Beck (Depoe Bay)

The other regional nominees:

  • Jeff Drew, Snake River Grill (Jackson Hole, WY)
  • James Honaker, Bistro Enzo (Billings, MT)
  • Jeff Keys, Vintage Restaurant (Ketchum, ID)

My early guess is that Seattle and Portland will be almost split in the final five contenders for the Best Chef Northwest category. Stay tuned!

Restaurant

Note This Year’s James Beard Nominees

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Like last year, Portland outscored Seattle for finalists in the Best Chef Northwest category for James Beard Foundation Awards, announced earlier today.

Ethan Stowell (of Staple & Fancy and more), whose pig blood ravioli I enjoyed at the most recent Cochon 555 event, is again nominated, as is Matt Dillon (of Sitka & Spruce and Corson Building), whose nettle soup with pork kidneys and hearts remains my favorite dish served in the short history of the Cochon 555 events.

Portland boasts three nominees: Andy Ricker (I love his chicken wings at Pok Pok), Cathy Whims (serving fabulous Italian food I’ve enjoyed at Nostrana), and Christopher Israel (whose Gruner goodies I’ve yet to sample, but I’ve heard good things).

Seattle is well-represented in national categories. Canlis is again nominated for Outstanding Service, which is no surprise, as they set the standard for service in Seattle. Another repeat nominee is Tom Douglas, whose growing empire makes him more compelling than ever as a candidate for Outstanding Restaurateur. In journalism awards, freelancer Sara Dickerman gets a nod in the Cooking, Recipes or Instruction category for her contributions to Saveur magazine. And incoming Seattle Weekly restaurant critic Hanna Raskin is up for an award in the Group Food Blog category for her “City of Ate” writing for the Dallas Observer.

Nominees will learn their fate during festivities early May in New York City. (Here is a list of all the nominees.) Seattle is assured at least one winner, as FareStart will win a well-deserved James Beard Foundation Humanitarian of the Year Award.