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Philly shut out at 2016 James Beard Awards

For the second consecutive year, Philadelphia restaurant folks put on a good show but were shut out Monday night at the 2016 James Beard Awards, generally regarded as the Oscars of the dining world.

For the second consecutive year, Philadelphia restaurant folks put on a good show but were shut out Monday night at the 2016 James Beard Awards, generally regarded as the Oscars of the dining world.

The black-tie gala at the Lyric Opera House drew 4,000 friends and sponsors of the Beard Foundation, which works to further the cause of food and culinary education.

Twenty-four categories covered such areas as chefs, restaurants, beverage programs, service, and design.

Philadelphians studded the list of nominees, including three of the six finalists for best chef, mid-Atlantic: Eli Kulp of Fork and High Street on Market in Old City, who was seriously injured in the wreck of an Amtrak train a year ago; Rich Landau of Vedge and V Street; and Greg Vernick of Vernick Food and Drink.

Both Landau and Vernick — whose restaurants are frequently noted at the top of best-of lists — were two-time nominees in the category. Aaron Silverman of Rose's Luxury in Washington won the award.

Stephen Starr, who is about to open his 35th restaurant in 20 years, was a finalist for outstanding restaurateur. Starr, a frequent nominee in the category, started his restaurant career in the early 1990s after selling his concert-promotion business. His portfolio includes such populist spots as Continental and Buddakan as well as chef-driven restaurants such as Morimoto and the forthcoming Le Coucou. Starr attended the ceremony with daughter Sarah. He lost to Ken Friedman of New York's the Spotted Pig, the Breslin, and Tosca Café.

Michael Solomonov, who with his business partner Steven Cook has opened five Philadelphia restaurants, including serious efforts (Zahav and Abe Fisher), casual spots (Dizengoff and Federal Donuts), and the down-home destination Percy Street BBQ, was a candidate for best chef in America by the James Beard Foundation. Suzanne Goin, who owns the Los Angeles restaurants A.O.C., Lucques, Tavern, and the Hungry Cat, won the category.

The last Philadelphia chef to bring home a Beard for best chef, mid-Atlantic, was Solomonov in 2011.

Alex Bois, the wunderkind baker at Old City's High Street on Market and New York's High Street on Hudson, was a finalist for rising star chef of the year. Winner was Daniela Soto-Innes of Cosme in New York.

Bois, 29, has mixed his undergraduate degree as a biochemistry major at the University of Massachusetts with a solid baking background.

Six times wasn't the charm for Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, who was a finalist for outstanding wine, spirits, or beer professional. The award went to Ron Cooper of Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal of Ranchos de Taos, N.M. Calagione started in the business in the early 1990s after working at a bar in New York City that specialized in craft beer.

It wasn't a total loss for Philadelphia or Solomonov. At the Beard's media awards last week in New York, Solomonov and Cook won the cookbook of the year for Zahav: A World of Israeli Cooking. The book also won in the international cookbook category.

The Beard Awards are in their second year in Chicago. The foundation had agreed to move the awards around the country to address concerns that it had become too focused on New York and its restaurant community. New York has its own chef's category.

Chicago, meanwhile, stacked the deck with all six chefs in the Great Lakes category (Curtis Duffy of Grace taking the prize), and its destination restaurant Alinea — now shuttered for renovations — was named the best restaurant in America.

Israeli-born Alon Shaya, who lived in Philadelphia before moving to New Orleans, won for best new restaurant. Shaya, like Zahav, specializes in Israeli cuisine.