These 5 N.J. Restaurants Vying For America's Top Food Awards

Five New Jersey restaurants and some of their critically acclaimed chefs and bakers are vying for top honors in one of the nation's most respected food competitions.

The James Beard Foundation released its list of semifinalists Wednesday for best chef and restaurant awards, and five New Jersey establishments made the list (see list below).

The list of semifinalists announced Wednesday will be sent to a panel of more than 600 judges — made up mainly of restaurant critics, food and wine editors, culinary educators and past James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Award winners — to whittle each category down to five nominees.

The finalists will be announced on March 15, and the winners will be announced May 1 in Chicago, according to the James Beard Foundation.

This year, five New Jersey establishments and chefs were included as semifinalists in award categories such as outstanding restaurant and outstanding baker. Three chefs were also named semifinalists for the regional best chef award.

Here's the full list of New Jersey chefs and restaurants named as James Beard Foundation Award semifinalists:

Outstanding Restaurant

Sagami in Collingswood

Outstanding Baker

Elizabeth Degener of Enfin Farms in Cape May

Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (D.C., DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)

• Scott Anderson of Princeton's Elements
• Joey Baldino of Collingswood's Zeppoli
• Dan Richer of Jersey City's Razza Pizza Artigianale

Patch file photo