This morning the James Beard Foundation announced the nominees for this year's James Beard Awards. The final list was whittled down from 15,000 entries (almost twice as many as last year), and award categories vary from video webcasts to reference cookbooks. The one that understandably garners the most attention is Outstanding Restaurant, however, and this year's nominees hail from across the map:
- • Babbo, New York, NY; Chef-Owner: Mario Batali, Owner: Joe Bastianich
- • Boulevard, San Francisco, CA; Chef-Owner: Nancy Oakes, Owner: Pat Kuleto
- • Fore Street, Portland, ME; Chef-Owner: Sam Hayward, Owner: Victor Leon and Dana Street
- • Highlands Bar & Grill, Birmingham, AL; Chef-Owner: Frank Stitt
- • Jean Georges, New York, NY; Chef-Owner: Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Owner: Phil Suarez
The Best New Restaurant nominees:
- • The Bazaar by José Andrés, Los Angeles, CA; Chef-Owner: José Andrés, Owners: Sam Narian and Philippe Starck
- • L2O, Chicago, IL; Chef: Laurent Gras, Owner: Richard Melman
- • Momofuku Ko, New York, NY; Chef-Owner: David Chang
- • Scarpetta, New York, NY; Chef-Owner: Scott Conant
The full list of all the nominees can be found here. The public can purchase tickets ($450 per person; $400 for James Beard Foundation members and early birds) for the black-tie awards ceremony and gala reception, which will be held in NYC at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall on Monday, May 4 (get tickets).