West Village Taqueria Chef Among James Beard Award Finalists

WEST VILLAGE, MANHATTAN — Empellón Chef Alex Stupak has made it into the finals for the prestigious James Beard Awards.

The taqueria co-owner is one of five New York City culinary minds that will vie for the title of Best Chef: New York State, according to the finalist list released this week.

The news comes, coincidentally, the same day that Stupak reopened Empellón for the first time since it closed during the coronavirus pandemic. The restaurant is selling Cinco de Mayo meals for a one-day-only takeout special from its West Fourth Street flagship.

Stupak is one of several New York City bars, chefs, bakers and restauranteurs who made the cut for the 2020 James Beard Award Finals, which were originally postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The list's publication was postponed this year as organizers instead focused "on the James Beard Foundation Food and Beverage Industry Relief Fund, which to date has disbursed more than $4 million to independent, locally owned restaurants around the country," the foundation said on its website.

But, after consultation with restarateurs, it was decided the awards should still go ahead. They look at work done in 2019 and the winners will be announced in September, though the usual physical ceremony won't be held.

The nominees from NYC by category are:

Outstanding Baker
Zachary Golper/Bien Cuit/NYC

Outstanding Chef
Missy Robbins/Lilia/NYC

Outstanding Pastry Chef
Natasha Pickowicz/Flora Bar/NYC
Miro Uskokovic/Gramercy Tavern/NYC

Outstanding Restaurateur
Alex Raij and Eder Montero/La Vara, Saint Julivert Fisherie, TxikitoNYC
Jason Wang/Xi'an Famous Foods/NYC

Best Chef: New York State
Sean Gray/Momofuku/NYC
Brooks Headley/Superiority Burger/NYC
Junghyun Park/Atomix/NYC
Daniela Soto-Innes/ATLA/NYC
Alex Stupak/Empellón/NYC

See the full list of nominees here.

The James Beard Foundation solicits entries for the awards in mid-October of each year. They are reviewed by the Restaurant and Chef Committee to determine eligibility and regional representation, and are then voted on by more than 600 judges from across the country to determine the final nominees.

The same group of judges, which is comprised of leading regional restaurant critics, food and wine editors, culinary educators, and past James Beard Award winners, then votes on the nominees to select the winners.