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See the NYC restaurants and chefs named as James Beard Award semifinalists

By

Ryan Kailath

Published Jan 24, 2024

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The interior of a restaurant

 

Photo by Colin Clark / Courtesy of Foxface Natural

By

Ryan Kailath

Published Jan 24, 2024

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The list of 420 chefs and eateries across the country nominated for the James Beard Foundation’s annual awards is finally out.

The awards, which are sometimes called the “foodie Oscars” and awarded by the New York City-based James Beard Foundation, aim to honor innovation, excellence and a “culture where all can thrive” in American restaurants.

Crudo from Foxface Natural

Colin Clark / Courtesy of Foxface Natural

The nominees for "Best New Restaurant" included hotspots like Tatiana, an Afro-Caribbean restaurant at Lincoln Center; Superiority Burger in Alphabet City; and Foxface Natural in the East Village.

Although Foxface Natural has recently received accolades from the New York Times and the New Yorker, the restaurant's co-owner Ori Kushnir says receiving a nod from the James Beard Foundation feels different.

An array of dishes at Tatiana

Photo by Michelle Giang / Courtesy of Tatiana

“James Beard, especially after all the changes they’ve made, I think it’s a very well thought-out election process,” Kushnir said, referring to the foundation’s post-pandemic changes, which include a stipulation that anyone nominating a potential winner must state how the candidate fits with their values around “a more equitable, sustainable, and healthy work culture.”

Foxface Natural is known for its unusual sourcing; the restaurant buys its proteins directly from hunters and fishermen, avoiding middlemen and the use of products stored in warehouses.

“What we’re trying to do overall is highlight ingredients that are special both in quality and in how they’re handled,” Kushnir said.

Chef Nasim Alikhani pictured at her Brooklyn restaurant, Sofreh

Scott Heins for Gothamist

Several of 2023’s nominees appeared again, including Mel the Bakery, which was nominated for “Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker” in 2023 and for “Outstanding Bakery” this year.

Chefs Nasim Alikhani of Sofreh, Mary Attea of the Musket Room, and Calvin Eng of Bonnie’s were among the talents who received nominations for the second consecutive year. Clover Hill's chef Charlie Mitchell, who was a nominee for "Best Emerging Chef" last year, is a semifinalist in this year's "Best Chef" category.

There were no nominees in Queens, the Bronx or Staten Island this year.

Charlie Mitchell of Clover Hill

Clay Williams Photo

Lita, an Iberian restaurant on the Jersey Shore, was nominated in the prestigious “Best New Restaurant” category, while the nominees for "Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic" included the Bangladeshi chef behind Korai Kitchen in Jersey City.

The long list of semifinalists will be pared down to a group of finalists on April 3, and the winners will be announced in a ceremony on June 10.

Here’s the full list of semifinalists in the NYC metro area:

Outstanding Restaurateur

Outstanding Chef

Outstanding Restaurant

Emerging Chef

Best New Restaurant

Outstanding Bakery

Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker

Outstanding Hospitality

Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program

Outstanding Bar

Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)

Best Chef: New York State

Tagged

food

new york city

connecticut

Ryan Kailath

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

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