What makes a restaurant the hottest destination in town?
Glowing Yelp reviews, Instagram-worthy presentation and high praise from critics and food bloggers go a long way. But among chefs and restaurateurs, nothing says you’ve made it like a James Beard Award.
Since 1990, the not-for-profit James Beard Foundation, named after “the father of American cuisine,” has been honoring outstanding names in the food and beverage industry. There is no cash reward, but a win — or even a nomination — can substantially increase the buzz for business.
Chef and restaurant winners were announced Monday night at Lyric Opera in Chicago. Here are some of the winners and honorees.
Best New Restaurant
Winner: Bâtard (New York City)
Central Provisions (Portland, Maine)
Cosme (New York City)
Parachute (Chicago)
Petit Trois (Los Angeles)
The Progress (San Francisco)
Spoon and Stable (Minneapolis)
Outstanding Bar Program
Arnaud’s French 75 Bar (New Orleans)
Bar Agricole (San Francisco)
Maison Premiere (Brooklyn, New York)
Trick Dog (San Francisco)
Winner: The Violet Hour (Chicago)
Outstanding Chef
Winner: Michael Anthony (Gramercy Tavern, New York)
Sean Brock, Husk (Charleston, South Carolina)
Suzanne Goin, Lucques (Los Angeles)
Donald Link, Herbsaint (New Orleans)
Marc Vetri, Vetri (Philadelphia)
Outstanding Pastry Chef
Dana Cree, Blackbird (Chicago)
Maura Kilpatrick, Oleana (Cambridge, Massachusetts)
Dahlia Narvaez, Osteria Mozza (Los Angeles)
Ghaya Oliveira, Daniel (New York City)
Winner: Christina Tosi, Momofuku (New York City)
Outstanding Baker
Joanne Chang, Flour Bakery + Cafe (Boston)
Mark Furstenberg, Bread Furst (Washington)
Winner: Jim Lahey, Sullivan Street Bakery, (New York City)
Belinda Leong and Michel Suas, B. Patisserie (San Francisco)
William Werner, Craftsman and Wolves (San Francisco)
Outstanding Restaurant
Winner: Blue Hill at Stone Barns (Pocantico Hills, New York)
Highlands Bar and Grill (Birmingham, Alabama)
Momofuku Noodle Bar, (New York City)
Per Se (New York City)
The Spotted Pig (New York City)
Outstanding Service
Winner: The Barn at Blackberry Farm (Walland, Tennessee)
Marea (New York City)
Quince (San Francisco)
Restaurant August (New Orleans)
Topolobampo (Chicago)
Outstanding Wine Program
Winner: A16 (San Francisco)
Bern’s Steak House (Tampa, Florida)
FIG (Charleston, South Carolina)
McCrady’s (Charleston, South Carolina)
Spago (Beverly Hills)
Outstanding Wine, Beer, or Spirits Professional
Sam Calagione, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Milton, Delaware)
Ron Cooper, Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal (Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico)
Ted Lemon, Littorai Wines (Sebastopol, California)
Winner: Rajat Parr, Mina Group (San Francisco)
Harlen Wheatley, Buffalo Trace Distillery (Frankfort, Kentucky)
Rising Star Chef of the Year
Tanya Baker, Boarding House (Chicago)
Alex Bois, High Street on Market (Philadelphia)
Erik Bruner-Yang, Toki Underground (Washington)
Winner: Jessica Largey, Manresa (Los Gatos, California)
Cara Stadler, Tao Yuan (Brunswick, Maine)
Ari Taymor, Alma (Los Angeles)
Best Chef: Great Lakes
Curtis Duffy, Grace (Chicago)
Winner: Jonathon Sawyer, Greenhouse Tavern (Cleveland, Ohio)
Paul Virant, Vie (Western Springs, Illinois)
Erling Wu-Bower, Nico Osteria (Chicago)
Andrew Zimmerman, Sepia (Chicago)
Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic
Joe Cicala, Le Virtù (Philadelphia)
Winner: Spike Gjerde, Woodberry Kitchen (Baltimore, Maryland)
Rich Landau, Vedge (Philadelphia)
Greg Vernick, Vernick Food & Drink (Philadelphia)
Cindy Wolf, Charleston (Baltimore, Maryland)
Best Chef: Midwest
Paul Berglund, The Bachelor Farmer (Minneapolis)
Justin Carlisle, Ardent (Milwaukee)
Winner: Gerard Craft, Niche (Clayton, Missouri)
Michelle Gayer, Salty Tart (Minneapolis)
Lenny Russo, Heartland Restaurant & Farm Direct Market (St. Paul, Minnesota)
Best Chef: Northeast
Karen Akunowicz, Myers + Chang (Boston)
Winner: Barry Maiden, Hungry Mother (Cambridge, Massachusetts)
Masa Miyake, Miyake (Portland, Maine)
Cassie Piuma, Sarma (Somerville, Massachusetts)
Andrew Taylor and Mike Wiley, Eventide Oyster Co. (Portland, Maine)
Best Chef: Northwest
Greg Denton and Gabrielle Quiñónez Denton, Ox (Portland, Oregon)
Renee Erickson, The Whale Wins (Seattle)
Winner: Blaine Wetzel, The Willows Inn on Lummi Island (Lummi Island, Washington)
Justin Woodward, Castagna (Portland, Oregon)
Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi, Joule (Seattle)
Best Chef: New York City
Marco Canora, Hearth
Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisi, Carbone
Winner: Mark Ladner, Del Posto
Anita Lo, Annisa
Ignacio Mattos, Estela
Jonathan Waxman, Barbuto
Best Chef: South
Vishwesh Bhatt, Snackbar (Oxford, Mississippi)
Justin Devillier, La Petite Grocery (New Orleans)
Jose Enrique, Jose Enrique (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
Slade Rushing, Brennan’s (New Orleans)
Winner: Alon Shaya, Domenica (New Orleans)
Best Chef: Southeast
John Fleer, Rhubarb (Asheville, North Carolina)
Edward Lee, 610 Magnolia (Louisville, Kentucky)
Steven Satterfield, Miller Union (Atlanta)
Winner: Jason Stanhope, FIG (Charleston, South Carolina)
Andrew Ticer and Michael Hudman, Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen (Memphis)
Tandy Wilson, City House (Nashville)
Best Chef: Southwest
Kevin Binkley, Binkley’s (Cave Creek, Arizona)
Winner: Aaron Franklin, Franklin Barbecue (Austin)
Bryce Gilmore, Barley Swine (Austin)
Hugo Ortega, Hugo’s (Houston)
Martín Rios, Restaurant Martín (Santa Fe, New Mexico)
Justin Yu, Oxheart (Houston)
Best Chef: West
Matthew Accarrino, SPQR (San Francisco)
Winner: Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski, State Bird Provisions (San Francisco)
Michael Cimarusti, Providence (Los Angeles)
Corey Lee, Benu (San Francisco)
Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo, Animal (Los Angeles)