The James Beard Foundation has announced the semifinalists for the 2018 James Beard Awards. These groups of semifinalists for the annual “Oscars of the food world” signify the short list of potential nominees for best restaurant, best chef, and other outstanding food and drink professionals in the United States.
We’re more interested in beverages, so the following are the semifinalists for Outstanding Wine Program; Outstanding Wine, Beer, or Spirits Professional; and Outstanding Bar Program, as per the James Beard Foundation press release:
Outstanding Wine Program (Presented by Robert Mondavi Winery)
a.o.c., Los Angeles
Bacchanal, New Orleans
Benu, San Francisco
The Boarding House, Chicago
Bourbon Steak, Washington, D.C.
Corkbuzz, NYC
FIG, Charleston, SC
The Forge, Miami Beach, FL
Great China, Berkeley, CA
Grill 23 & Bar, Boston
The Little Nell, Aspen, CO
Lotus of Siam, Las Vegas
Lucky Palace, Bossier City, LA
Miller Union, Atlanta
Noble Rot, Portland, OR
Pappas Bros. Steakhouse, Houston
Passionfish, Pacific Grove, CA
Taberna de Haro, Brookline, MA
Vino, Honolulu
Wild Ginger, Seattle
Outstanding Wine, Beer, or Spirits Professional
Leah Wong Ashburn, Highland Brewing Co., Asheville, NC
Scott Blackwell and Ann Marshall, High Wire Distilling Co., Charleston, SC
An Bui, Mekong, Richmond, VA
Cathy Corison, Corison Winery, St. Helena, CA
Tony Coturri, Coturri Winery, Glen Ellen, CA
Diane Flynt, Foggy Ridge Cider, Dugspur, VA
Dave Green, Skagit Valley Malting, Burlington, WA
Meredith Meyer Grelli and Alex Grelli, Wigle Whiskey, Pittsburgh
Miljenko Grgich, Grgich Hills Estate, Rutherford, CA
Deirdre Heekin, La Garagista, Bethel, VT
Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø, Evil Twin Brewing, Brooklyn, NY
Charles Joly, Crafthouse Cocktails, Chicago
Drew Kulsveen, Willett Distillery, Bardstown, KY
Todd Leopold, Leopold Bros., Denver
Steve Matthiasson, Matthiasson Wines, Napa, CA
Jordan Salcito, Ramona, NYC
Jeffrey Stuffings, Jester King Brewery, Austin
JC Tetreault and Esther Tetreault, Trillium Brewing Company, Boston
Sean Lilly Wilson, Fullsteam Brewery, Durham, NC
Lance Winters, St. George Spirits, Alameda, CA
Outstanding Bar Program (Presented by Woodford Reserve Bourbon)
Anvil Bar & Refuge, Houston
The Atomic Lounge, Birmingham, AL
The Baldwin Bar, Woburn, MA
Bar Agricole, San Francisco
Bar Clacson, Los Angeles
Bar Goto, NYC
Bar Leather Apron, Honolulu
Canon, Seattle
Clover Club, Brooklyn, NY
Clyde Common, Portland, OR
Columbia Room, Washington, D.C.
Cure, New Orleans
Dante, NYC
Kimball House, Decatur, GA
The Living Room at the Dewberry, Charleston, SC
Lost Lake, Chicago
Manifesto, Kansas City, MO
Standby, Detroit
Teresa’s Next Door, Wayne, PA
Trick Dog, San Francisco
Also, fun fact for the beer loving set: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery announced Thursday it is an official sponsor of this year’s James Beards. Dogfish will be pouring brews at the James Beard Foundation’s Chef’s Night Out and Awards Gala in Chicago on May 6 and May 7, respectively.
“We’re honored that the folks at the James Beard Foundation recognize and celebrate independent craft brewers as they’ve been instrumental in elevating it’s stature on a global platform,” Sam Calagione, founder and CEO of Dogfish Head, said in a press release. Calagione is a 2017 winner of James Beard’s Outstanding Wine, Spirits or Beer Professional award. “We’re excited to partner with the Foundation in the sponsorship of this year’s Awards and look forward to sharing our adventurous, food-friendly beers with event attendees and the culinary world as we toast the best in the industry and celebrate the pairing of great beer with great food.”
