The James Beard Award is the equivalent of The Academy Award in the food world. Receiving a semifinalist ranking is a huge validation of a chef’s incredible talent and craft in the food industry, it’s essentially a win on its own. The foundation just released its James Beard Award semifinalists from all over North America and we’ve included all of New England’s semifinalists below.
You can almost guarantee that a meal at one of the below restaurants will never disappoint. Keep them in mind for birthdays or upcoming holidays like Valentine’s! All finalists will be announced on June 15 of this year.
Outstanding Restaurateur
- Douglass Williams, MIDA, Boston, MA
Outstanding Chef
- Cassie Piuma, Sarma, Somerville, MA
Outstanding Bakery
- Super Secret Ice Cream, Bethlehem, NH
Emerging Chef
- Jason Eckerson and Kate Hamm, Fish & Whistle, Biddeford, ME
- Nikhil Naiker, NIMKI, Providence, RI
Best New Restaurant
- Somaek, Boston, MA
- LUNE, Dennis Port, MA
Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker
- Brant Dadaleares, Gross Confection Bar, Portland, ME
Outstanding Hospitality
- Persimmon, Providence, RI
- Taj Indian Cuisine, South Portland, ME
Outstanding Beverages
- Oyster Club, Mystic, CT
Outstanding Bar
- Wolf Tree, White River Junction, VT
Best New Bar
- The Abbey, Brunswick, ME
- Equal Measure, Boston, MA
- Merai, Brookline, MA
Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service
- Mary Allen Lindemann, Coffee By Design, Portland, ME
- Alyssa Mikiko DiPasquale, The Koji Club, Brighton, MA
Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service
- Nathaniel Meiklejohn, The Jewel Box, Portland, ME
- Oscar Simoza, The Wig Shop, Boston, MA
Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)
- Robert Andreozzi, Pizza Marvin, Providence, RI
- Avery Buck, May Day, Burlington, VT
- John DaSilva, Chickadee, Boston, MA
- Conor Dennehy, Tallula, Cambridge, MA
- Subat Dilmurat, Jahunger, Providence, RI
- Lee Frank, Lee Frank’s, South Berwick, ME
- Michelle Greenfield, Allium Eatery, Westport, CT
- Sky Haneul Kim, Gift Horse, Providence, RI
- Valentine Howell, Black Cat, Jamaica Plain, MA
- Kwasi Kwaa, Comfort Kitchen, Boston, MA
- Brian Lewis, The Cottage, Westport, CT
- Charlie Menard, Canteen Creemee, Waitsfield, VT
- Rachel Miller, Nightshade Noodle Bar, Lynn, MA
- Erin Miller, Urban Hearth, Cambridge, MA
- Nicole Nocella, Stalk, Dover, NH
- Nick Rabar, Honeybird Kitchen & Cocktails, East Providence, RI
- Jordan Rubin, Mr. Tuna, Portland, ME
- Michael Serpa, Select Oyster, Boston, MA
- Jake Stevens, Leeward, Portland, ME
- Derek Wagner, Nicks on Broadway, Providence, RI
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