A contemporary Senegalese meal is offered at a restaurant in New Orleans. An Ethiopian chef first pursued a profession in psychology before deciding to become a cook. The 2017 James Beard Awards have nominated these eateries and chefs as finalists.
On Wednesday, the Restaurant and Chef Awards unveiled their shortlist in Washington, D.C. On June 10, during the award ceremony at Chicago’s Lyric Opera House, the winners will be revealed.
The executive chef of Hav & Mar in New York, Fariyal Abdullahi, is one of the five nominees for the new chef award. Following the completion of his psychology degree, Abdullahi took a different career route, working at the American Culinary Institute and Noma Restaurant in Copenhagen before eventually joining Chef Marcus Samuelsson’s seafood-focused restaurant, Hav & Mar.
Another chef has a difficult culinary journey, and Abdullahi has also entered this group. Masako Morishita relocated to Washington and started supporting the commander there as a cheerleader. The young chef is now serving Japanese cuisine to Perry’s restaurant patrons.
Dakar NOLA, a nominee in the best new restaurant category, creates a seasonal seven-course seafood vegetarian meal that blends New Orleans cuisine with chef Serigne Mbaye’s West African background.
Dean Neff of Seabird Restaurant in Wilmington, North Carolina, and Sarah Minnick of Lovely’s Fifty Fifty in Portland, Oregon, are this year’s finalists for Outstanding Chef.
Two Texas restaurants, Mixtli in San Antonio and West Texas Barbecue United Convenience West in Malfa, were contenders in the exceptional restaurant category. Both restaurants are known for their “progressive Mexican cuisine.”
The James Beard Foundation is a nonprofit organization that was established over thirty years ago. James Beard “celebrates, supports and promotes the people behind American food culture” shortly after his passing. Beard was a “pioneer gourmet.”
The New York Times referred Charles Beard as the “Dean of American Cooking” in 1954. In 1946, he hosted the TV network’s first food show, “I Love to Eat”.
In recent years, the charity has encountered criticism. It introduced new regulations, practices, and ethics in 2022, which led to accusations of inappropriate conduct and a lack of diversity among the cooks.
In 1991, the first award ceremony was place.
Finalists for the Restaurant and Chef Awards in 2024
Superb Dining Establishment
Baobab Ticket Price, Mamba Hamisi and Nadia Nijimbel, Detroit, Mich.
Yenv and Quynh-Vy Pho Bac Standard Time, The Boat, Seattle, Washington; Pho Bac Sup Shop, Pho Bac Shop, Pho Bac Standard Time
Chris Viord, New Hampshire; Greenleaf, Ansan, Heting, Milford, and Wolfborough
Hollis Wells Silverman, Washington, D.C.; East Point Group (Wells, Lacorina, Duck & Peach, etc.).
Boulder, United States; Erika Whitker and Kelly Whitker, ID EST (Wolf’s Tailor, BRUT, Basta, and others).
Superb chef Sarah Minnick, charming fifty-fifty, Oregon’s Portland
Seabird, Wilmington, North Carolina; Dean Neff
Alberti, Michael Rafidi, Washington, D.C.
Port of Call, Mysticism, Renie Tuponce, CT
David Vigur, Dallas, Texas; Lucia
Outstanding Restaurant
Complex, Santa Fe, New Mexico
· Mafa Convenience West, Texas
Longban, Portland, Oregon
Mistley, San Antonio, Texas
Traces, Haiquan Bay, Mississippi
Emerging chef
Fayar Abdullahi, Huff & Marr, New York City, New York
Janet Besella, Pansita, Seattle, Washington
· Daylight Calgaran, Culture, Charleston, SC
Ryan Fernandez, southern junction of Buffalo, New York
Masako Morixia, Perry, Washington, D.C.
The best new restaurant
Barcelona Bar, Witzburg, Washington
Barbs-B-Q, Lockhart, Texas
Black House, Seaside Carmel, California
· Comfortable kitchen, Dorchester, Massachusetts
Dakarnora, New Orleans, Los Angeles
Hayward, McMinnville, Oregon
Kaya, Orlando, Florida
Kether, Nashville, Tennessee
Oro by Nixta in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Mountain, Bozeman, MT
Outstanding bakery
Burke Bakery, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Long Beach, California
· Golden Chrysanthemum Cake Shop in Portland, Oregon
Mel Bakery, Hudson, New York
· ZU Bakery in Portland, USA
Excellent pastry chef or baker
Susan Pei, Moon Rabbit, Washington, D.C.
Jesus Brazon and Manuel Brazon, Caracas Bakery, Dora and Miami, Florida
Atsuko Fujimoto, Noburn Bakery, Portland, United States
Crystal Cass, Valentine, Phoenix, Arizona
Anna Posey, Elsk, Chicago, Illinois
Outstanding hospitable
Crawford and his son, Raleigh, North Carolina
Gemma, Dallas, Texas
Lula Cafe, Chicago, Illinois
Melba, New York City, New York
Woodford Food and Beverage, Portland, United States
Outstanding Wine and Other Beverage Program
Lula Drake Winery, South Carolina, Colombia
Morris Hotel, San Francisco, California
Anaheim, California
Goat with raised tail, Washington, D.C.
Vanuatu Wax Bar, Buffalo, New York
Best chefs by region
Best Chef: California
Jeff Davis, Bödel, Oakland, California
Rogrio Garcia, Oro, Calistoga, California
Lord Maynard Lyra, Lord Kuya, Los Angeles, California
Tara Monsold, Animi, Santiago, California
Buu “Bili” Wu, Crewe, Sacramento, California
Best chef: Great Lakes (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio)
Winnie Simino, Cordilla, Cleveland, Ohio Jose Salazar, Mita, Sinati, Ohio
Sujan Sakar, Chicago, Indiana
Kazuo Sato, Sazai, Clausen, Michigan
Jenner Thomas Card, Esmay, Chicago, Illinois
Best chef: Mid-Atlantic (Washington, Texas, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia)
Tony Conte, Napoletana Hell Pizza, Danes Town, Maryland
Jesse Ito, Royal Sushi and Izakaya, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Matt Cohen, a coast, Fenwick Island, DE
Harley Pitt, Bass Rouge, Easton, Maryland
Kevin Tian, Moon Rabbit, Washington, D.C.
Best Chef: Midwest (IA, Kansas, Minnesota, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI)
Ann Ahmed, Haruna, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Rob Connolly, Reed, St. Louis, Missouri
Dan Jacobs and Dan Van Ritter, Esteeff, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Christina Nguyen, Hai Hai, Minneapolis, Minnesota
I’m Nicholson, Boiler Room, Omaha, Nebraska – Money Grabbing
Best chef: Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY)
Brandon Cunningham, Social Home in Grino, Massachusetts
Ali Sabah, Mazza Cafe, Salt Lake City, United States
Matt Wattle, rhizome, Breckenridge, CO
Penelope Wong, Yuan Wonton, Denver, Colorado
Nick Zoko, Urban Hill, Salt Lake City, Utah
Best Chef: New York State
Nassim Alihani, Sofrey, Brooklyn, New York
Nathan Kono, Kono, New York City, New York
Chris Mauricio, Harana Market, Accord, New York
Charlie Mitchell, Clover Hill, Brooklyn, New York
Jeremy Salamon, Agi’s Counter, Brooklyn, New York
Best chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)
Connor Denis, Tarula, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Maria Mesa, Dolores, Providence, Rhode Island
David Standridge, daughter of the shipbuilder, mystic, Connecticut
Jack Stevens, Downwind District, Portland, Maine
Carla Tobin, Burlington Honey Road, Vermont
Best chef: Northwest and Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA)
Avery Adams, Matthia Kitchen, Ocas Island, Washington State
Christie Brown, Holy Communion, Seattle, Washington
Josh Dorcak, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Ashland, or
Gregory Gurdette, Portland, Connecticut
—Melissa Miranda, Musang, Seattle, WA-
Best chef: Southeast (Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia)
Jamie Davis, Hackney, Washington, North Carolina
Rod Lassett and Parnas Savon, Atlanta Talat Market, Georgia
James London, Fat Fish, Charleston, South Carolina
Robbie Robinson, City Border Barbecue, West Columbia, South Carolina
Paul Smith, Charleston 1010 Bridge, West Virginia
Best chef: Southern (American League, Arkansas, Florida, Los Angeles, Mississippi, PR)
Valerie Chang, Maty’s, Miami, Florida
Hunter Evans, Elvi, Jackson, Mississippi
Gabriel Hernandez, Verde Mesa, San Juan, Public Relations
Carlos Portella, Orujo, San Juan, Public Relations
Avonde Wilku, Saffron, New Orleans, Los Angeles
Best chef: Southwest (Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma)
René Andrade, Barcanola, Phoenix, Arizona
Jeff Chancharern, Madelew Kitchen, Oklahoma, Oklahoma City
Steve Kestler, Aroma Latin American Cocina, Henderson, Nevada
Steve Riley, Mesa Supply Company, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Eduardo Rodríguez, Zacateland, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Best Chef: Texas
Emmanuel Chávez, Tatmo, Houston, Texas
Christopher Callum, Ataboy of Callum, San Antonio, Texas
Tracy Malicek-Izekiel, Austin Birdie, Texas
Misty Norris, Petra and the Beast, Dallas, Texas
Anna Liz Plido, Anna Liz Tacria, Missan, Texas
