NEW YORK CITY — The James Beard Foundation announced finalists for its annual awards honoring culinary professionals, with New York favorites and up-and-comers nominated across the categories.
Finalists in restaurant categories include Blue Hill in Greenwich Village, nominated for Outstanding Restaurant, as well as the recently-opened Empellón Cocina, nominated for Best New Restaurant.
Outstanding Restaurateur finalists include Maguy Le Coze, owner of Le Bernardin in Midtown, and Phil Suarez of the Suarez Restaurant Group, which owns Jean Georges, Prime Steakhouse, and the organic Union Square hotspot ABC Kitchen, 2011’s Best New Restaurant winner.
The foundation honored Danny Bowien from Mission Chinese Food in New York as a Rising Star Chef finalist. Momofuku founder and chef David Chang, previous James Beard Award recipient, was nominated for as an Outstanding Chef finalist for the East Village’s Momofuku Noodle Bar.
The Bar at the NoMad Hotel in the Flatiron District was shortlisted for the Outstanding Bar Program award.
Finalists for the Best Chef: New York City award include April Bloomfield from the Spotted Pig, Wylie Dufresne from wd-50, Marc Ladner from Del Posto, Jonathan Waxman from Barbuto, and Michael White from Marea.
The James Beard Foundation Awards Ceremony and Gala Reception will take place May 6 at Lincoln Center.
