Seattle Restaurants Rake In 2017 James Beard Award Nominations

SEATTLE, WA - A slew of Seattle restaurants and chefs have been nominated for James Beard awards this year - and more new restaurants in Seattle were up for awards than our foodie rival to the south, Portland.

The James Beard Foundation awards restaurants, chefs, mixologists, sommeliers, and bakers around the country each year for culinary achievements. In 2016, Seattle chef Renee Erickson took home the award for best Northwest chef for her Fremont eatery, The Whale Wins.

Here are the Seattle and Washington state semifinalists for the 2017 James Beard awards. The winners will be announced on March 15 at a ceremony in Chicago.

Best New Restaurant

• No Anchor
• Upper Bar Ferdinand

Outstanding Baker

• Evan Andres, Columbia City Bakery

Outstanding Bar Program

• Canon

Outstanding Chef

• Matt Dillon, Sitka & Spruce
• Blaine Wetzel, Willows Inn (Lummi Island)

Outstanding Restaurateur

• Ethan Stowell, Ethan Stowell Restaurants (Staple & Fancy, Tavolàta, Anchovies & Olives)

Outstanding Wine Program

• Canlis
• Wild Ginger

Outstanding Wine, Spirits, or Beer Professional

• Wayne Carpenter, Skagit Valley Malting (Burlington)

Rising Star Chef of the Year

• Jay Blackinton, Hogstone’s Wood Oven (Orcas Island)
• Maximillian Petty, Eden Hill
• Brady Williams, Canlis

Best Chef Northwest

• Eric Donnelly, RockCreek
• Mike Easton, Il Corvo
• Edouardo Jordan, Salare
• Kotaro Kumita, Wataru
• Nathan Lockwood, Altura
• Shaun McCrain, Copine
• Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi, Joule

Image via Flickr used under Creative Commons