2017 James Beard Awards: DC Restaurants, Chefs Get Lots of Nominations

WASHINGTON, DC — The James Beard Foundation has just announced their 2017 restaurant and chef semifinalists, and D.C. was well-represented.

The semifinalists for the 27th annual awards were selected from a list of 24,000 online entries in 21 categories. The foundation will announce the final nominees on March 15 in Los Angeles, and the winners in the publishing categories will be announced April 25 with the winners of the remaining awards being announced at a gala in Chicago on May 1.

Here are your nominees in D.C.:

Best New Restaurant

• Pineapple and Pearls, Washington, D.C.
• Sweet Home Café at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Washington, D.C.

Outstanding Baker

• Mark Furstenberg, Bread Furst, Washington, D.C.

Outstanding Bar Program

• Columbia Room, Washington, D.C.

Outstanding Chef

• Fabio Trabocchi, Fiola, Washington, D.C.
• Eric Ziebold, Kinship, Washington, D.C.

Outstanding Restaurant

• Jaleo, Washington, D.C.
• Rasika, Washington, D.C.

Outstanding Restaurateur

• Ashok Bajaj, Knightsbridge Restaurant Group, Washington, D.C. (The Bombay Club, Rasika, The Oval Room, and others)

Outstanding Service

• Marcel’s by Robert Wiedmaier, Washington, D.C.

Outstanding Wine Program

• Komi, Washington, D.C.

Rising Star Chef of the Year

• Kevin Tien, Himitsu, Washington, D.C.

Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic

• Amy Brandwein, Centrolina, Washington, D.C.
• Tom Cunanan, Bad Saint, Washington, D.C.
• Mike Friedman, All-Purpose Pizzeria, Washington, D.C.
• Seng Luangrath, Thip Khao, Washington, D.C.
• Cedric Maupillier, Convivial, Washington, D.C.
• Nobu Yamazaki, Sushi Taro, Washington, D.C.

"The James Beard Foundation holds an online open call for entries beginning in mid-October of each year," the statement reads. "This year, over 24,000 entries were received, a list which the Restaurant and Chef Committee reviews to determine eligibility and regional representation. Based on the results and eligibility requirements for each award, the committee then produces a nominating ballot that lists the semifinalists in each of the 21 Restaurant and Chef Award categories, some of which include Outstanding Chef, Outstanding Restaurant, Best Chef in ten different U.S. regions, Outstanding Service, Outstanding Bar Program, and Best New Restaurant."