The nominees for the James Beard Foundation Awards were announced Tuesday and a number of Chicago chefs made the highly acclaimed list.
Nominees in 59 categories were announced during a breakfast at the James Beard House in New York City, including those in categories for Restaurant and Chef, Restaurant Design, and Book, Broadcast and Journalism.
Among the nominees for Best Chef in the Great Lakes were Curtis Duffy of Grace in Chicago, Paul Virant of Vie in Western Springs, Erling Wu-Bower of Nico Osteria in Chicago and Andrew Zimmerman of Sepia in Chicago.
Tanya Baker from Boarding House was also nominated for "Rising Star Chef of the Year."
Topolobampo in Chicago was listed among those in the “Oustanding Service” category and Dana Cree from Blackbird was nominated in the “Outstanding Pastry Chef” category.
The James Beard Foundation Awards Ceremony and Gala Reception is slated to take place at Lyric Opera of Chicago on May 4.
Here’s a look at the Chicago nominees in the Restaurant and Chef categories:
Local
Outstanding Restaurant Design (75 seats and under): James Gorski and Tom Nahabedian, Bureau of Architecture Design, for Brindille in Chicago.
Best New Restaurant: Parachute
Outstanding Bar Program: The Violet Hour
Outstanding Pastry Chef: Dana Cree, Blackbird
Outstanding Restaurateur: Donnie Madia, One Off Hospitality Group, Chicago (Blackbird, Avec, The Publican, and others)
Outstanding Service: Topolobampo
Rising Star Chef of the Year: Tanya Baker, Boarding House
Best Chef: Great Lakes: Curtis Duffy, Grace
Best Chef: Great Lakes: Paul Virant, Vie, Western Springs
Best Chef: Great Lakes: Erling Wu-Bower, Nico Osteria
Best Chef: Great Lakes: Andrew Zimmerman, Sepia
James Beard Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award: Richard Melman, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Chicago
See the full list of nominees here.