James Beard Awards: San Francisco Leads California (Barely)

SAN FRANCISCO, 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 54 restaurants and chefs from California 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, 16 from San Francisco made the list, the most in California. San Francisco barely edged Los Angeles which had 15.

San Francisco:

Outstanding Restaurant:

• Quince
• Swan Oyster Depot

Outstanding Baker:

• Belinda Leong and Michel Suas, B. Patisserie

Outstanding Bar Program:

• Bar Agricole
• Trick Dog

Outstanding Pastry Chef:

• Michelle Polzine, 20th Century Café

Outstanding Service:

• Saison
• Zuni Cafe

Outstanding Wine Program:

• Benu

Rising Star Chef:

• Rachel Aronow, The Alembic

Best Chef West:

• Kim Alter, Nightbird
• Val M. Cantu, Californios
• Dominique Crenn, Atelier Crenn
• Brandon Jew, Mister Jiu’s
• Evan Rich and Sarah Rich, Rich Table
• Joshua Skenes, Saison

The foundation holds an online open call for entries every year. A committee reviews thousands of entries to come up with a nominating ballot of semifinalists in each category.

An independent volunteer panel of more than 600 judges — comprised of top regional restaurant critics, food and wine editors, culinary educators, and past winners — then votes on specific award categories to determine the final five nominees in each category.

They then vote on these five nominees to select the winners.

The foundation will announce the final nominees on the morning of March 14 at Parc in Philadelphia. The event will be live-streamed.

The winners will be announced at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York City on April 27. They’ll receive a certificate and a medallion engraved with the James Beard Foundation Awards insignia. There are no cash prizes.

Click here to see the full list of awards.

— Photo credit: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for #Culinary Kickoff