5 PA Restaurants, Chefs Nominated For James Beard Awards

PHILADELPHIA — Five Pennsylvania restaurants and chefs have been nominated for the 2020 James Beard Awards — known as the "Oscars of the culinary world." All five of Pennsylvania's nominees hail from Philadelphia.

Kalaya is in the running for the Best New Restaurant award. Marc Vetri of the acclaimed Vetri Cucina is a finalist in the Outstanding Chef category.

Three Philadelphia chefs were named finalists for the Best Chef in the Mid-Atlantic region, which includes Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Washington DC, and Virginia. The finalists are Nicholas Elmi of Laurel; Rich Landau of Vedge; and Cristina Martinez of South Philly Barbacoa.

The nominations were announced via a Twitter livestream that was co-hosted by Visit Philadelphia President and CEO Jeff Guaracino and the Beard Foundation's CEO, Clare Reichenbach.

"Over the past few months COVID-19 has upended the restaurant community in every facet," the foundation said in its announcement.

"During this time the Foundation has turned its attention to supporting the relief and rebuild efforts, postponing Awards activities to instead focus 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. After consultation with chefs and restaurateurs across the country, the Foundation decided to announce the 2020 nominees and honorees, and set the dates for this year’s remaining Awards events, which recognize work done in 2019."

Typically, the winners would be announced at a ceremony, but due to the coronavirus pandemic that ceremony will not happen.

Instead, the James Beard Foundation will announce winners on Friday, Sept. 25 via livestream on the James Beard Foundation’s Twitter feed.

You can view the full list of nominees here.