The James Beard Foundation has announced its list of semifinalists for 2017 awards, and metro Atlanta restaurants and chefs fared well. Many standbys made the list, along with several first-timers.
The finalists will be announced March 15 in Los Angeles, and the winner will be announced May 1 in Chicago.
Among national awards, The Federal, which opened last year, is in the running for Best New Restaurant, and Brian So of Spring in Marietta is among those chefs under the age of 30 nominated as a Rising Star Chef. Sarah O'Brien of Little Tart was nominated again in the Outstanding Baker category.
In the Best Chef: Southeast category, Ri Liu of Masterpiece in Duluth was nominated for the first time, along with return nominees Steven Satterfield, Kevin Gillespie, Billy Allin and Ryan Smith. If Satterfield is picked as a finalist, it will be his fifth year in a row.
Ford Fry sees his name in the hat again for Outstanding Restaurateur, along with Eddie Hernandez and Mike Klank of Taqueria del Sol, while chef and restaurateur Hugh Acheson got nods for his restaurants Five & Ten and Empire State South.
A complete list of 2017 semifinalists is online at jamesbeard.org/awards.
The following are all the Georgia semifinalists for this year:
Best New Restaurant
The Federal, Atlanta -- Get a first look at The Federal here
Outstanding Baker
Sarah O'Brien, Little Tart , Atlanta
Outstanding Bar Program
Kimball House , Decatur -- Read our review of Kimball House, the restaurant's new space, Bonanza! and why their cocktail was picked as one of the best of 2016
Outstanding Restaurant
Five & Ten , Athens
Outstanding Restaurateur
Ford Fry, (The Optimist, St. Cecilia, Superica, and others), Atlanta - Read reviews of Fry restaurants St. Cecilia, Superica, Bar Margot, Marcel, BeetleCat, JCT Kitchen, King + Duke and The El Felix, and read more about Fry's expanding restaurant empire.
Eddie Hernandez and Mike Klank , Taqueria del Sol, Atlanta
Outstanding Service
Aria , Atlanta - Read our review of Aria
Outstanding Wine Program
Empire State South , Atlanta - Read more about Empire State South's beverage manager
Miller Union , Atlanta
Rising Star Chef of the Year
Brian So, Spring , Marietta - Read our review of Spring
Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)
Billy Allin, Cakes & Ale , Decatur
Kevin Gillespie, Gunshow , Atlanta
Ri Liu, Masterpiece , Duluth
Steven Satterfield, Miller Union , Atlanta
Ryan Smith, Staplehouse , Atlanta
A complete list of 2016 semifinalists is online at jamesbeard.org/awards.
MORE:
More on Staplehouse and Ryan Smith:
More on Kevin Gillespie, Revival and Gunshow:
More on Steven Satterfield and Miller Union:
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