FOOD NEWS: James Beard Award Semifinalists

On February 17th The James Beard Foundation announced its list of Restaurant and Chef Award Semifinalists. Below is a list of all the Seattle area Semifinalists.

Best New Restaurant
Girin Steakhouse & Ssam Bar - Seattle

Outstanding Baker
Evan Andres, Columbia City Bakery - Seattle

Outstanding Bar Program
Canon - Seattle

Outstanding Chef
Matt Dillon, Bar Sajor - Seattle
Jerry Traunfeld, Poppy - Seattle

Outstanding Pastry Chef
Junko Mine, Café Juanita - Kirkland, WA

Outstanding Restaurant
Lark - Seattle

Outstanding Restaurateur
Ethan Stowell, Ethan Stowell Restaurants - Seattle (Anchovies and Olives, Ballard Pizza Co., Bar Cotto, Bramling Cross, Goldfinch Tavern, How to Cook a Wolf, MKT., Red Cow, Rione XIII, Staple and Fancy, Tavolàta)

Outstanding Service
Café Juanita - Kirkland, WA

Outstanding Wine Program
Canlis - Seattle
Wild Ginger - Seattle

Outstanding Wine, Spirits or Beer Professional
Wayne Carpenter, Skagit Valley Malting - Burlington, WA

Rising Star Chef of the Year
Jay Blackinton, Hogstone Wood Oven - Orcas Island, WA
Maximillian Petty, Eden Hill - Seattle

Best Chefs: Northwest
Eric Donnelly, RockCreek - Seattle
Mike Easton, Il Corvo Pasta - Seattle
Renee Erickson, The Whale Wins - Seattle
Edouardo Jordan, Salare - Seattle
Nathan Lockwood, Altura - Seattle
Dustin Ronspies, Art of the Table - Seattle
Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi, Joule - Seattle

Congratulations to all of the Seattle area Semifinalists!! Best of luck in the Finals!!