Starr, Vetri, Garces on James Beard semifinals list
The Beard has issued its "big list" of semifinalists.
Step One in the James Beard Awards: Make it to the semifinals list.
The foundation released the 2009 list this morning of 20 nominees per category. Voting among members will result in a list of five nominees per category, to be released March 23 in Chicago. Winners will be announced May 4.
Among the Philly highlights:
Stephen Starr as outstanding restaurateur
Marc Vetri as outstanding chef
Distrito, Zahav and Izakaya (AC) as best new restaurant
Jonathan McDonald of The Pub & the Kitchen, Chip Roman of Blackfish and Michael Solomonov of Zahav as rising-star chef of the year
Fred Ortega of Lacroix and Kate Honeyman of Buddakan for pastry chef
Lacroix for wine service
Vetri for service
Jim Burke of James; Steven Cameron of Blue in Surf City, NJ (and soon at Noble); Michael DiBianca at Moro in Wilmington; Jose Garces of Amada; Chip Roman of Blackfish; Michael Solomonov of Zahav; Marcie Turney of Bindi -- all for best chef/mid-Atlantic region
Douglas Rodriguez, still a partner at Alma de Cuba, is up for best chef of the South for Ola in Miami.