Congrats CC Beard Finalists!

2014 James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards

Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH) 

• Paul Virant, Vie Restaurant, Western Springs, IL
• Andrew Zimmerman, Sepia, Chicago, IL

Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI) 

• Justin Aprahamian, Sanford, Milwaukee, WI
• Lenny Russo, Heartland Restaurant & Farm Direct Market, St. Paul, MN

Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, NY STATE, RI, VT) 

• Joanne Chang, Flour Bakery + Cafe, Boston, MA
• Matt Jennings, Farmstead Inc., Providence, RI
• Michael Leviton, Lumiere, Newton, MA
• Barry Maiden, Hungry Mother, Cambridge, MA

Best Chef: Northwest (AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY) 

• Jason Franey, Canlis, Seattle, WA
• Naomi Pomeroy, Beast, Portland, OR
• Ethan Stowell, Staple & Fancy, Seattle, WA
• Cathy Whims, Nostrana, Portland, OR

Best Chef: South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS, PR) 

• Justin Devillier, La Petite Grocery, New Orleans, LA
• Ryan Prewitt, Peche Seafood Grill, New Orleans, LA
• Alon Shaya, Domenica, New Orleans, LA

Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV) 

• Ashley Christensen, Poole’s Downtown Diner, Raleigh, NC
• Steven Satterfield, Miller Union, Atlanta, GA

Best Chef: Southwest (AZ, CO, NM, OK, TX, UT) 

• Justin Yu, Oxheart, Houston, TX

Best Chef: West (CA, HI, NV) 

• Michael Cimarusti, Providence, Los Angeles, CA

Best New Restaurant 

• Peche Seafood Grill, New Orleans, LA

Outstanding Wine Program 

• FIG, Charleston, SC

Outstanding Service 

• Blue Hill, New York, NY
• Topolobampo, Chicago, IL

Outstanding Restaurateur 

• Cindy Pawlcyn, Napa Valley, CA (Mustards Grill, Cindy’s Back Street Kitchen)

Rising Star Chef of the Year 

• Blaine Wetzel, The Willows Inn on Lummi Island, Lummi Island, WA

Outstanding Restaurant 

• Highlands Bar and Grill, Birmingham, AL

Outstanding Chef 

• Michael Anthony, Gramercy Tavern, New York, NY
• Sean Brock, McCrady’s, Charleston, SC
• Suzanne Goin, Lucques, Los Angeles, CA

2014 James Beard Foundation Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America 

• Barry Estabrook, Writer, Vergennes, VT
• Paul Kahan, Chef and Restaurateur, Chicago, IL