On Monday morning, members of the food media gathered at the James Beard House in NYC's West Village for the announcement of this year's James Beard Award nominees, the group that made the cut from 9,600-plus entries from across the country.
Award categories vary – Outstanding Restaurant Graphics, anyone? – but the one that captures lots of attention is Outstanding Restaurant. Our surveyors agree that this year's nominees have terrific food, as they all ring with either a 26, 27 or 28 Food rating. Here's the list:
Outstanding Restaurant Award Nominees
And of this year's Best New Restaurant nominees, two of them (Central Michel Richard and Fearing's at the Ritz-Carlton) made New York Times critic Frank Bruni's list of the most intriguing new restaurants outside New York.
Best New Restaurant Award Nominees
- Anthos, NYC; Chef/Owner: Michael Psilakis, Owner: Donatella Arpaia
- Central Michel Richard, Washington, DC; Chef/Owner: Michel Richard
- Fearing's at the Ritz-Carlton, Dallas; Chef/Owner: Dean Fearing
- Osteria Mozza, Los Angeles; Chef: Matt Molina, Owners: Nancy Silverton, Mario Batali, Joseph Bastianich
- Osteria, Philadelphia; Chef/Owners: Marc Vetri, Jeff Michaud, Owner: Jeff Benjamin
The James Beard Awards may be the culinary equivalent of the Academy Awards, yet unlike the Oscars, the public can purchase tickets ($450 per person; $400 for James Beard Foundation members) to the black-tie awards ceremony and gala reception (a walk-around tasting focusing on American artisanal cuisine) that will be held in NYC at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall on the evening of Sunday, June 8th.