8 Philly Restaurants, Chefs Earn James Beard Award Nominations

PHILADELPHIA — Eight Philadelphia restaurants and chefs are advancing in the prestigious James Beard Foundation culinary awards program, according to an announcement Tuesday.

Often called “the Oscars of the culinary arts,” the annual James Beard Awards recognize chefs, restaurateurs, food writers, critics and journalists. Honorees for achievement awards — Humanitarian of the Year, Lifetime Achievement and Impact Awards — were also announced Tuesday.

Here are the nominees from Philadelphia's culinary scene:

• Outstanding Restaurant: Kalaya
• Best New Restaurant: Emmett
• Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker: Justine MacNeil, Fiore
• Outstanding Bar: The Lovers Bar at Friday Saturday Sunday

Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic

Philly chefs represent three of the category's five nominees.

• Jesse Ito, Royal Sushi & Izakaya
• Amanda Shulman, Her Place Supper Club
• Omar Tate and Cybille St. Aude-Tate*, Honeysuckle

*joint nomination

This is the 36th year for the James Beard Awards, which were created in 1990 to honor exceptional achievement across a wide spectrum of dining experiences, from fine dining restaurants to casual eateries.

The Restaurant and Chef Award winners will be announced June 15 at Lyric Opera House in Chicago. Media awards will be presented on June 13, and Impact Awards will be presented on June 14.

James Beard announced its America's Classic Award winners last month, honoring restaurants that "reflect local character and cultural traditions and serve as an enduring anchor for their communities by serving delicious food across many years."

Oyster House in Philadelphia won the award for the Mid-Atlantic region.

These independently owned restaurants “reflect local character and cultural traditions and serve as an enduring anchor for their communities by serving delicious food across many years,” according to the James Beard Foundation.