3 CT Restaurants, Chefs Win James Beard Nominations

Two Connecticut chefs and a wine and beverages program are advancing in the prestigious James Beard Foundation culinary awards program, according to an announcement Tuesday.

Often called “the Oscars of the culinary arts,” the annual James Beard Awards recognize chefs, restaurateurs, food writers, critics and journalists. Honorees for achievement awards — Humanitarian of the Year, Lifetime Achievement and Impact Awards — were also announced Tuesday.

Restaurant and chef nominees from Connecticut include:

• Outstanding Chef: David Standridge of The Shipwright’s Daughter in Mystic
• Best Chef - Northeast: David DiStasi of Materia Ristorante in Bantam
• Outstanding Wine and Other Beverage Program: The Port of Call in Mystic

Standridge has previously won in the Best Chef - Northeast category. This year he has been nominated in the nationwide category.

Related: Mystic Chef Wins James Beard Foundation Award

This is the 36th year of the James Beard Awards, which were created in 1990 to honor exceptional achievement across a wide spectrum of dining experiences, from fine-dining restaurants to casual eateries.

The Restaurant and Chef Award winners will be announced Monday, June 15, at Lyric Opera House in Chicago. Media awards will be presented on June 13, and Impact Awards on June 14.

Previously announced America’s Classics awards went to restaurants in California, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

These independently owned restaurants “reflect local character and cultural traditions and serve as an enduring anchor for their communities by serving delicious food across many years,” according to the James Beard Foundation.