James Beard Awards: See How Los Angeles Fared

NORTHRIDGE, CA – Foodies rejoice: you have some new restaurants to seek out. The semifinalists for this year’s James Beard Foundation Awards — dubbed the Oscars for restaurants — have been released and 21 nominees are from the Los Angeles area and made the list.

The awards across 21 categories for national and regional chef and restaurant awards were released on Thursday. Categories include best new restaurant, best chef, outstanding baker and outstanding service, among others.

Out of more than 20,000 entrants, 21 from the Los Angeles area made the list. They are:

Best New Restaurant: A restaurant opened in the calendar year before the award will be given that already displays excellence in food, beverage, and service, and that is likely to make a significant impact in years to come.

• Felix Trattoria, Venice
• Kismet, Los Angeles
• Vespertine, Culver City

Outstanding Baker (Presented by Taylor Precision Products): A chef or baker who prepares breads, pastries, or desserts in a retail bakery, and who serves as a national standard-bearer of excellence. Must have been a baker or pastry chef for at least five years.

• Or Amsalam and Alex Phaneuf from Lodge Bread Company, Los Angeles

Outstanding Bar Program: A restaurant or bar that demonstrates excellence in cocktail, spirits, and/or beer service.

• Bar Clacson, Los Angeles

Outstanding Pastry Chef (Presented by Lavazza): A chef or baker who prepares desserts, pastries, or breads in a restaurant, and who serves as a national standard bearer of excellence. Must have been a pastry chef or baker for the past five years.

• Margarita Manzke from République, Los Angeles

Outstanding Restaurateur: A working restaurateur who sets high national standards in restaurant operations and entrepreneurship. Candidates must have been in the restaurant business for at least 10 years. Candidates must not have been nominated for a James Beard Foundation chef award in the past five years.

• Caroline Styne from The Lucques Group, Los Angeles
• Josh Loeb and Zoe Nathan from Rustic Canyon Group, Santa Monica

Outstanding Service: A restaurant in operation five or more years that demonstrates high standards of hospitality and service.

• n/naka, Los Angeles
• Park’s Barbeque, Los Angeles
• Providence, Los Angeles

Outstanding Wine Program (Presented by Robert Mondavi Winery): A restaurant in operation five or more years that serves as a standard bearer for excellence in wine service through a well-presented wine list, knowledgeable staff, and efforts to educate customers about wine.

• a.o.c., Los Angeles

Rising Star Chef of the Year (Presented by S.Pellegrino® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water): A chef age 30 or younger who displays an impressive talent and who is likely to make a significant impact on the industry in years to come.

• Liz Johnson from Freedman’s, Los Angeles
• Miles Thompson from Michael’s, Santa Monica
• Jonathan Yao from Kato, Los Angeles

Best Chef: West (CA,HI, NV)

• Josef Centeno from Orsa & Winston, Los Angeles
• Michael Cimarusti from Providence, Los Angeles
• Jeremy Fox from Rustic Canyon, Santa Monica
• Jessica Koslow from Sqirl, Los Angeles
• Travis Lett from Gjelina, Venice
• Niki Nakayama from n/naka, Los Angeles

Image via Shutterstock