James Beard Foundation Awards Announces 2017 Semifinalists

The James Beard Foundation announced its 2017 list of restaurant and chef semifinalists for the prestigious James Beard Award this morning. In its 27th edition, this award recognizes the best culinary talent from across the U.S., among wine and spirits professionals, rising star chefs, pastry chefs and bakers to best restaurants and restaurateurs. The awards are divided into 21 categories and we are proud to announce the Latino nominees for this year.

In the category of Outstanding Restaurant, congratulations to José André’s Jaleo in Washington, D.C. and Jaime Martin del Campo and Ramiro Arvizu’s La Casita Mexicana in Bell, CA. Two Mexicanos are nominated for Outstanding Restaurateur: Gabriela Camara of Cala in San Francisco, CA and duo Eddie Hernandez and Mike Klank of Taqueria del Sol in Atlanta, GA. Ilma Lopez, a native Venezuelan who currently resides in Portland, ME, is nominated in the category of Outstanding Pastry Chef for her restaurant Piccolo.

Some notable Latinos were also nominated in the Best Chef category. 

For New York City: Uruguayo Ignacio Mattos for his well-known small plates at Estela and Alex Raij and Eder Montero for their Basque-inspired bites at Txikito.

For Great Lakes: Jose Salazar of Mita’s in Cincinnati.

For Mid-Atlantic: Mexican Cristina Martinez and partner Benjamin Miller of South Philly Barbacoa in Philadelphia and Justin Severino’s Spanish cuisine of Cure in Pittsburg.

For Midwest: Yucatan native Jose Guzman of Brewer’s table at Surly Brewing Co. in Minneapolis.

For Northwest: Jose Chesa of Ataula in Portland, OR and Greg Denton and Gabrielle Quinones Denton for their South American cuisine at Ox in Portland, OR.

For South: Jose Enrique of Jose Enrique in San Juan, PR.

For Southwest: Silvana Salcido Esparza of Barrio Urbano in Phoenix; Omar Flores of Casa Rubia in Dallas; Mexico City native Hugo Ortega of Hugo’s in Houston; Jonathan Perno of Los Poblanos in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM; and Guadalajara native Martin Rios of Restaurant Martin in Santa Fe. 

Winners will be announced at the James Beard Foundation Gala at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on Monday, May 1, 2017. We wish them all good luck as they make our Latino community proud. For the full list of winners, click here.