James Beard Nominees Announced, LA Represents

The James Beard Foundation, the grand arbiters of taste, announced the final nominees for the 2008 awards this morning. There are 52 categories, and if you're really interested in all of them, check the official awards site. Otherwise Angelenos and their restaurants make most of the big categories: Best Restaurateur (Wolfgang Puck), Outstanding Chef (Suzanne Goin), Outstanding Restaurant (Campanile), Best New Restaurant (Osteria Mozza), Rising Star Chef (Matt Molina, the Mozzas), and the list goes on and on. Lots of heavy hitters from NY, SF and Chicago in the same categories, but the Mozzas can take 'em. Other notables: David Myers is the only local chef in the California category; Dave Gardetta's profile of Spago in Los Angeles magazine and Brad A. Johnson's restaurant criticism in Angeleno get nods; Top Chef is nominated in two TV categories; and Saipin Chutima from Lotus of Siam in Vegas gets nod for Best Chef in the Southwest.

The awards, one of the biggest foodie events of the year, will take place on June 8 at Lincoln Center in New York.

2008 James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards
OUTSTANDING RESTAURATEUR AWARD
A working restaurateur, actively involved in multiple restaurants in the United States, who has set uniformly high national standards as a creative force in the kitchen and/or in restaurant operations. Candidates must have been in the restaurant business for at least ten years.

Joe Bastianich/Mario Batali
Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca
NYC

Tom Douglas
Tom Douglas Restaurants
Seattle

Richard Melman
Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises
Chicago

Wolfgang Puck
The Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group
Beverly Hills, CA

Jean-Georges Vongerichten
Jean-Georges Management LLC
NYC

OUTSTANDING CHEF AWARD
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 a chef for at least the past five years.

Grant Achatz
Alinea, Chicago

José Andrés
Minibar, Washington, DC

Dan Barber
Blue Hill, NYC

Suzanne Goin
Lucques, Los Angeles

Frank Stitt
Highlands Bar & Grill
Birmingham, AL

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 ten consecutive years.

Boulevard, San Francisco
Chef/Owner: Nancy Oakes, Owner: Pat Kuleto

Campanile, Los Angeles
Chef/Owner: Mark Peel

Gramercy Tavern, NYC
Owner: Danny Meyer

Jean Georges, NYC
Chef/Owner: Jean-Georges Vongerichten

The Slanted Door, San Francisco
Chef/Owner: Charles Phan

BEST NEW RESTAURANT
A restaurant opened in 2007 that already displays excellence in food, beverage, and service and is likely to have a significant impact on the industry in years to come.

Anthos, NYC
Chef/Owner: Michael Psilakis, Owner: Donatella Arpaia

Central Michel Richard, Washington, DC
Chef/Owner: Michel Richard

Fearing's at the Ritz Carlton, Dallas
Chef/Owner: Dean Fearing
The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas

Osteria Mozza, Los Angeles
Chef: Matt Molina
Owners: Nancy Silverton, Mario Batali, Joseph Bastianich

Osteria, Philadelphia
Chef/Owners: Marc Vetri, Jeff Michaud, Owner: Jeff Benjamin

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.

Nate Appleman
A 16, San Francisco

Sean Brock
McCrady's, Charleston, SC

Gavin Kaysen
Café Boulud, NYC

Johnny Monis
Komi, Washington, DC

Matt Molina
Osteria Mozza, Los Angeles

Gabriel Rucker
Le Pigeon, Portland, OR

OUTSTANDING PASTRY CHEF AWARD
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 five years.

Gina DePalma
Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca
NYC

Pichet Ong
P*ONG, NYC

Nicole Plue
Redd, Yountville, CA

Elisabeth Prueitt and Chad Robertson
Tartine Bakery
San Francisco

Mindy Segal
HotChocolate
Chicago

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 five years.

Aureole, Las Vegas
Wine Director: Steven Geddes

Bin 36, Chicago
Wine Director: Brian Duncan

Eleven Madison Park, NYC
Wine Director: John Ragan

Blackberry Farm, Walland, TN
Wine Director: Andy Chabot

Picasso, Las Vegas
Wine Director: Robert Smith

OUTSTANDING WINE AND SPIRITS PROFESSIONAL AWARD
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 five years.

Dale DeGroff
Dale DeGroff Co., Inc., NYC

Merry Edwards
Merry Edwards Wines
Sebastopol, CA

David Lett
The Eyrie Vineyards
McMinnville, OR

Bobby Stuckey
Frasca Food and Wine
Boulder, CO

Terry Theise
Terry Theise Estate Selections
Silver Spring, MD

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

Canlis
Seattle
Owners:The Canlis Family

Gary Danko
San Francisco
Owner: Gary Danko

Spiaggia
Chicago
Owner: Tony Mantuano

Terra
St. Helena, CA
Owners: Hiro Sone and Lissa Doumani

Vetri
Philadelphia
Owner: Mark Vetri

BEST CHEFS IN AMERICA
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 five years. The three most recent years must have been spent in the region where chef is presently working.

BEST CHEF: PACIFIC (CA, HI)

Douglas Keane
Cyrus
Healdsburg, CA

David Kinch
Manresa
Los Gatos, CA

David Myers
Sona
Los Angeles

Craig Stoll
Delfina
San Franciso

Michael Tusk
Quince
San Francisco

BEST CHEF: SOUTHWEST (AZ, CO, NM, NV, OK, TX, UT)

Saipin Chutima
Lotus of Siam
Las Vegas

Sharon Hage
York Street
Dallas

Ryan Hardy
Montagna
Aspen, CO

Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson
Frasca Food and Wine
Boulder, CO

Andrew Weissman
Restaurant Le Rêve
San Antonio, TX