These NYC Chefs, Restaurants Are James Beard Awards Semifinalists

NEW YORK CITY — A prestigious culinary prize yet again gave New York City gourmands plenty to savor.

The James Beard Foundation on Wednesday announced semifinalists for its selfsame award.

And it served up honors for Big Apple chefs and restaurants in every eligible category.

Honored semifinalists such as Shenarri Freeman, who scored an "Emerging Chef" nod for work at vegan soul food establishment Cadence, still have to go through rounds of competitions until the final James Beard Awards are announced.

"Winners will be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on Monday, June 13, 2022, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago," the semifinal's announcement states.

Fifteen New York City chefs grabbed semifinalist nods in the "Best Chef" category for the state. And two pairs of chefs — Alex Raij and Eder Montero, of La Vara, and Angie Rito and Scott Tacinelli, of Don Angie — were named in the "Outstanding Chef" bracket.

Here are the New York City semifinalists, by category and restaurant, for the 2022 Restaurant and Chef Awards:

Outstanding Restaurateur

• Ravi DeRossi, Overthrow Hospitality
• Marc Meyer, Vicki Freeman, and Chris Paraskevaides, Bowery Group (Shuka, Shukette, Vic’s, and others)

Outstanding Chef

• Alex Raij and Eder Montero, La Vara
• Angie Rito and Scott Tacinelli, Don Angie

Outstanding Restaurant

• Di Fara Pizza
• La Morada

Emerging Chef

• Calvin Eng, Bonnie's
• Shenarri Freeman, Cadence

Best New Restaurant

• Gage & Tollner

Outstanding Pastry Chef

• Camari Mick, The Musket Room
• Caroline Schiff, Gage & Tollner

Outstanding Baker

• Louis Volle, Lodi

Outstanding Hospitality (Presented by American Airlines)

• Sylvia's Restaurant

Outstanding Wine Program

• The Four Horsemen
• Frenchette

Outstanding Bar Program

• Llama San

Best Chefs (Presented by Capital One) — Best Chef: New York State

• Einat Admony, Balaboosta
• Mary Attea, The Musket Room
• Amanda Cohen, Dirt Candy
• Nick Curtola, The Four Horsemen
• JJ Johnson, FIELDTRIP
• Helen Nguyen, Saigon Social
• Ayesha Nurdjaja, Shuka
• Chintan Pandya, Dhamaka
• Kyo Pang, Kopitiam
• Junghyun Park, Atomix
• Erik Ramirez, Llama Inn
• Romeo Regalli, Ras Plant Based
• Irwin Sánchez, Under the Volcano
• Bryce Shuman, Sweetbriar
• Hillary Sterling, Ci Siamo

See the full list of James Beard semifinalists here.