Congrats to the 2018 James Beard Award Nominees

The James Beard Foundation, widely known for celebrating chefs and key players in the hospitality industry across the country, announced the nominees for their annual James Beard Awards on March 14. After receiving over 23,000 entries, the foundation has selected five finalists for each category. Just like last year, we’d like to congratulate all of the nominees and are proud to share all of the finalists that are #poweredbybento.

Nominated for: Best New Restaurant & Best Chef: New York City

Empellón Midtown, Manhattan, NY

empellon.com

Chef Alex Stupak’s Midtown flagship restaurant offers innovative and upscale Mexican fare in a boldly-designed space. Stupak makes Mexican cuisine shine with his playful imagination and uses his pastry background to create an incredible dining experience from start to finish.

Nominated for: Outstanding Baker

Dianna Daoheung, Black Seed Bagels, Manhattan, NY

blackseedbagels.com

Daoheung is the co-owner and baking mastermind behind this popular Montreal-style wood-fired bagel chain. She also drove the initiative to launch the shop’s pastry program, offering a variety of cookies, brownies, and other baked goods.

Nominated for: Outstanding Bar Program

Bar Agricole, San Francisco, CA

baragricole.co

This contemporary bar and restaurant is known for its seasonal craft cocktails made from spirits distilled using traditional farmhouse practices, and Northern California cuisine cooked with ingredients sourced from local organic and biodynamic farms.

Nominated for: Outstanding Chef

David Kinch, Manresa, Los Gatos, CA

manresarestaurant.com

Chef/proprietor David Kinch’s career path has put him at the forefront of new contemporary California cuisine. His culinary philosophy is influenced by ingredient-driven cooking and through modern techniques he has studied around the world.

Nominated for: Outstanding Pastry Chef

Kelly Fields, Willa Jean, New Orleans

Chef/Partner Kelly Fields fulfilled her dream of opening a Southern-inspired restaurant and bakery in 2015 with Willa Jean, named after her grandmother, who drove Fields to follow her passions. The restaurant and bakery features ever-evolving menu items made with fresh, local ingredients.

Nominated for: Outstanding Restaurant

Quince, San Francisco, CA

quincerestaurant.com

The three Michelin-starred restaurant showcases Californian ingredients in modern Italian and French dishes under Chef/owner Michael Tusk. The restaurant sources ingredients from its Fresh Run Farm, which influences its seasonally-changing menu.

Nominated for: Best Chef: New York City

Ignacio Mattos, Estela, Manhattan, NY

estelanyc.com

The intimate space in lower Manhattan serves innovative Mediterranean-inspired cuisine from Chef Ignacio Mattos. Estela’s menu also incorporates the many diverse cultures of New York City.

Nominated for: Best Chef: New York City

Missy Robbins, Lilia, Brooklyn, NY

lilianewyork.com

Missy Robbins’ skills and knowledge of Italian cuisine shine in her neighborhood spot, Lilia. With handmade pastas and woodfired pizzas, Lilia offers a casual dining experience with authentic Italian influence.

Nominated for: Best Chef: Midwest

Ann Kim, Young Joni, Minneapolis, MN

youngjoni.com

Chef/owner Ann Kim brings redefined dining to Minneapolis with Young Joni. Her cooking is a reflection of the cultural conversations she sees in America today and features a menu that uses quality ingredients, wholly inspired by wood-fired cooking.

Nominated for: Best Chef: Northeast

Tiffani Faison, Tiger Mama, Boston, MA

Chef Tiffani Faison brings adventurous Southeast Asian–inspired eats to the funky Boston restaurant. Her culinary abilities also earned Faison second place on the first season of Top Chef.

Nominated for: Best Chef: South

Kristen Essig and Michael Stoltzfus, Coquette, New Orleans

coquettenola.com

Coquette is owned by Chefs Kristen Essig and Michael Stoltzfus, who serve contemporary Southern cuisine with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients and globally-inspired dishes.

Nominated for: Best Chef: West

Dominique Crenn, Atelier Crenn, San Francisco

ateliercrenn.com

Chef Dominique Crenn cooks French-inspired cuisine at her elegant and contemporary restaurant Atelier Crenn, which has earned two Michelin stars. Crenn shows no signs of slowing down with side projects like Bar Crenn and Boutique Crenn already on the way!