The 2012 James Beard Chef and Restaurant Semifinalists Announced
By: Leah Rodrigues
Published: February 21, 2012

The 2012 James Beard chef and restaurant semifinalists were announced earlier today.  A James Beard Award is equivalent to that of Grammy or Oscar in the food world.  On March 19, the James Beard Foundation will release the narrowed down list from the one below and the nominees for the following categories: book, journalism, restaurant graphics and design, broadcast and new media.
Best New Restaurant
Altura, Seattle
	AQ, San Francisco
	The Bachelor Farmer, Minneapolis
	Bistronomic, Chicago
	The Catbird Seat, Nashville, TN
	The Dorrance, Providence, RI
	The Farm and Fisherman, Philadelphia
	Fiola, Washington, D.C.
	Harvest, Louisville, KY
	Isa, NYC
	Little Serow, Washington, D.C.
	The Macintosh, Charleston, SC
	MB Post, Manhattan Beach, CA
	Next, Chicago
	Ollie Irene, Mountain Brook, AL
	Park Tavern, San Francisco
	Petite Jacqueline, Portland, ME
	Picca, Los Angeles
	Pistou, Burlington, VT
	Pondicheri, Houston
	Restaurant 1833, Monterey, CA
	Salt, St. Louis
	ShinBay, Scottsdale, AZ
	Tashan, Philadelphia
	Tertulia, NYC
	Trade, Boston
	Tremont, NYC
	Yardbird Southern Table & Bar, Miami Beach, FL
	Zeppoli, Collingswood, NJ
Outstanding Bar Program
Anvil Bar & Refuge, Houston
	Arnaud's French 75 Bar, New Orleans
	The Aviary, Chicago
	Bar Agricole, San Francisco
	Beretta, San Francisco
	Clyde Common, Portland, OR
	The Columbia Room, Washington, D.C.
	Cook & Brown Public House, Providence, RI
	Cure, New Orleans
	Drink, Boston
	The Esquire Tavern, San Antonio, TX
	The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co., Philadelphia
	High West Distillery & Saloon, Park City, UT
	Holeman & Finch Public House, Atlanta
	La Belle Vie, Minneapolis
	The Old Fashioned, Madison, WI
	PDT, NYC
	Pegu Club, NYC
	The Porter Beer Bar, Atlanta
	PX, Alexandria, VA
	Rivera, Los Angeles
	Standard Tap, Philadelphia
	The Violet Hour, Chicago
	The Zig Zag Café, Seattle
Outstanding Chef
Jody Adams, Rialto, Cambridge, MA
	Sean Brock, McCrady's, Charleston, SC
	David Chang, Momofuku Ssäm Bar, NYC
	Gary Danko, Restaurant Gary Danko, San Francisco
	Suzanne Goin, Lucques, Los Angeles
	Daniel Humm, Eleven Madison Park, NYC
	Paul Kahan, Blackbird, Chicago
	Melissa Kelly, Primo, Rockland, ME
	David Kinch, Manresa, Los Gatos, CA
	Donald Link, Herbsaint, New Orleans
	Tony Mantuano, Spiaggia, Chicago
	Tim McKee, La Belle Vie, Minneapolis
	Carrie Nahabedian, Naha, Chicago
	Vitaly Paley, Paley's Place, Portland, OR
	Charles Phan, The Slanted Door, San Francisco
	Stephan Pyles, Stephan Pyles, Dallas
	Frank Ruta, Palena, Washington, D.C.
	Nancy Silverton, Pizzeria Mozza, Los Angeles
	Holly Smith, Cafe Juanita, Kirkland, WA
	Janos Wilder, Janos, Tucson, AZ
Outstanding Pastry Chef
Julieta V. Adauto, Orange Peel Pastries, Cakes & More, El Paso, TX
	Joanne Chang, Flour Bakery + Cafe, Boston
	Melissa Chou, Aziza, San Francisco
	Patrick Fahy, Café des Architectes, Chicago
	Ken Forkish, Ken's Artisan Bakery, Portland, OR
	Michelle Gayer, Salty Tart Bakery, Minneapolis
	Hedy Goldsmith, Michael's Genuine Food & Drink, Miami
	Maura Kilpatrick, Sofra Bakery and Cafe, Cambridge, MA
	Yasmin Lozada-Hissom, Olivea, Denver
	Lisa Lu, Jardinière, San Francisco
	Tiffany MacIsaac, Birch & Barley, Washington, D.C.
	Cheryl Maffai and Jonathan Stevens, Hungry Ghost Bread, Northampton, MA
	Dahlia Narvaez, Osteria Mozza, Los Angeles
	Ghaya Oliveira, Boulud Sud, NYC
	Jessie Prawlucki, Fond / Belle Cakery, Philadelphia
	Aaron Russell, Restaurant Eugene, Atlanta
	Mindy Segal, Mindy's HotChocolate, Chicago
	Philip Speer, Uchi, Austin, TX
	Bob Truitt, Ai Fiori, NYC
	Cynthia Wong, Empire State South, Atlanta
Outstanding Restaurant
August, New Orleans
	Balthazar, NYC
	Blue Hill, NYC
	Boulevard, San Francisco
	Canlis, Seattle
	Charleston, Baltimore
	Fore Street, Portland, ME
	Foreign Cinema, San Francisco
	Highlands Bar and Grill, Birmingham, AL
	The Kitchen Restaurant, Sacramento, CA
	Magnolia Grill, Durham, NC
	Marcel's, Washington, D.C.
	Oleana, Cambridge, MA
	Patina, Los Angeles
	Picasso at Bellagio, Las Vegas
	Restaurant Alma, Minneapolis
	Terra, St. Helena, CA
	Tru, Chicago
	Vetri, Philadelphia
	Vincent on Camelback, Phoenix
Outstanding Restaurateur
Edward Aloise and Claudia Rippee, E&C Restaurant Management Corporation, Manchester, NH
	Nick Badovinus, Flavor Hook, Dallas
	Ashok Bajaj, Knightsbridge Restaurant Group, Washington, D.C.
	Tom Baron and Bill Fuller, big Burrito Restaurant Group, Pittsburgh
	Roger Berkowitz, Legal Sea Foods, Boston
	Frank Bonanno, Bonanno Concepts, Denver
	Bruce Bromberg and Eric Bromberg, Blue Ribbon Restaurants, NYC
	Richard D'Amico and Larry D'Amico, D'Amico & Partners, Minneapolis
	Jason Dady, Jason Dady Restaurants, San Antonio, TX
	Tom Douglas, Tom Douglas Restaurants, Seattle
	Sam Fox, Fox Restaurant Concepts, Scottsdale, AZ
	Richard Gonzmart, Columbia Restaurant, Tampa, FL
	Mike Klank and Eddie Hernandez, Taqueria del Sol, Atlanta
	Donnie Madia, One Off Hospitality, Chicago
	Nick Pihakis, Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q, Birmingham, AL
	Piero Selvaggio, Valentino Restaurant Group, Santa Monica, CA
	Stephen Starr, Starr Restaurants, Philadelphia
	Caroline Styne, Lucques/A.O.C./Tavern, Los Angeles
	Phil Suarez, Suarez Restaurant Group, NYC
	Doug Washington, Mitchell Rosenthal, and Steven Rosenthal, Stock & Bones, San Francisco
Outstanding Service
Brigtsen's, New Orleans
	Café Boulud at the Brazilian Court Hotel, Palm Beach, FL
	Clancy's, New Orleans
	The Compound, Santa Fe, NM
	Cyrus, Healdsburg, CA
	Fountain Restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia, Philadelphia
	The French Room at the Adolphus Hotel, Dallas
	Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas
	L'Espalier, Boston
	La Grenouille, NYC
	Manny's Steakhouse, Minneapolis
	Michael Mina, San Francisco
	Nopa, San Francisco
	The Oakroom at the Seelbach Hilton, Louisville, KY
	Picholine, NYC
	Providence, Los Angeles
	Restaurant Eve, Alexandria, VA
	Spiaggia, Chicago
	Topolobampo, Chicago
	Vetri, Philadelphia
Outstanding Wine Program
A16, San Francisco
	The Barn at Blackberry Farm, Walland, TN
	Café on the Green at Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas, Irving, TX
	Canlis, Seattle
	Charleston, Baltimore
	CityZen at Mandarin Oriental, Washington, D.C.
	CUT at Beverly Wilshire, Beverly Hills, CA
	Emeril's New Orleans
	Five and Ten, Athens, GA
	Frasca Food and Wine, Boulder, CO
	Hatfield's, Los Angeles
	No. 9 Park, Boston
	Patina, Los Angeles
	Perbacco, San Francisco
	Picasso at Bellagio, Las Vegas
	Restaurant Eve, Alexandria, VA
	Sepia, Chicago
	Tria, Philadelphia
	Troquet, Boston
	Wild Rice Restaurant, Bayfield, WI
Outstanding Wine & Spirits Professional
Sam Calagione, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, DE
	Ron Cooper, Del Maguey, Single Village Mezcal, Ranchos de Taos, NM
	Merry Edwards, Merry Edwards Winery, Sebastopol, CA
	Greg Engert, Neighborhood Restaurant Group, Alexandria, VA
	Alex Golitzin, Quilceda Creek Vintners, Snohomish, WA
	Paul Grieco, Terroir, NYC
	Ken Grossman, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, CA
	Lance Hanson, Peak Spirits, Hotchkiss, CO
	David Hirsch, Hirsch Vineyards, Cazadero, CA
	Manfred Krankl, Sine Qua Non, Ventura, CA
	Jim Koch, The Boston Beer Company, Boston
	Steve McCarthy, Clear Creek Distillery, Portland, OR
	Garrett Oliver, Brooklyn Brewery, NYC
	Jorge Ordoñez, Fine Estates from Spain, Dedham, MA
	Virginia Philip, Virginia Philip Wine Shop & Academy, West Palm Beach, FL
	Neal Rosenthal, Mad Rose Group, Pine Plains, NY
	Jörg Rupf, St. George Spirits, Alameda, CA
	Abe Schoener, The Scholium Project, Napa, CA
	Eric Solomon, Eric Solomon Selections - European Cellars, Charlotte, NC
	Sean Lilly Wilson, Fullsteam, Durham, NC
Rising Star Chef of the Year
Dave Beran, Next, Chicago
	Noah Bernamoff, Mile End, NYC
	Danny Bowien, Mission Chinese Food, San Francisco
	Katie Button, Cúrate, Asheville, NC
	Clayton Chapman, The Grey Plume, Omaha, NE
	Joe Cicala, Le Virtù, Philadelphia
	Preston Clark, El Paseo, Mill Valley, CA
	Chad Colby, Mozza2Go, Los Angeles
	Joshua Drew, Farmshop, Santa Monica, CA
	Kevin Gillespie, Woodfire Grill, Atlanta
	Bryce Gilmore, Barley Swine, Austin, TX
	Grant Gordon, Tony's, Houston
	Emma Hearst, Sorella, NYC
	Matthew Kirkley, L2O, Chicago
	Casey Lane, The Tasting Kitchen, Venice, CA
	Aaron London, Ubuntu, Napa, CA
	Sara Lukasiewicz, Red Devon, Bangall, NY
	Thomas McNaughton, flour + water, San Francisco
	JD Morton, Domaine Hudson, Wilmington, DE
	David Posey, Blackbird, Chicago
	Jesse Schenker, Recette, NYC
	Lee Styer, Fond, Philadelphia
	Benjamin Sukle, The Dorrance, Providence, RI
	Max Sussman, Roberta's, NYC
	Christina Tosi, Momofuku Milk Bar, NYC
	Jarrod Verbiak, DB Bistro Moderne at the JW Marriott Marquis Miami
	Sameh Wadi, Saffron Restaurant & Lounge, Minneapolis
	Blaine Wetzel, The Willows Inn, Lummi Island, WA
	Micah Wexler, Mezze, Los Angeles
	Kris Yenbamroong, Talésai, West Hollywood, CA
	Sue Zemanick, Gautreau's, New Orleans
Best Chef: Great Lakes
Josh Adams, June, Peoria Heights, IL
	Richard Blondin, Refectory Restaurant & Bistro, Columbus, OH
	Michael Carlson, Schwa, Chicago
	Jean-Robert de Cavel, Jean-Robert's Table, Cincinnati
	Luciano Del Signore, Bacco Ristorante, Southfield, MI
	David Gilbert, Forest Grill, Birmingham, MI
	Greg Hardesty, Recess, Indianapolis
	Stephanie Izard, Girl & the Goat, Chicago
	Anne Kearney, Rue Dumaine, Dayton, OH
	Regina Mehallick, R Bistro, Indianapolis
	Matthew Millar, Reserve, Grand Rapids, MI
	Martial Noguier, Bistronomic, Chicago
	Chris Nugent, Goosefoot, Chicago
	Kent Rigsby, Rigsby's Kitchen, Columbus
	Jonathon Sawyer, The Greenhouse Tavern, Cleveland
	Bruce Sherman, North Pond, Chicago
	David Tallent, Restaurant Tallent, Bloomington, IN
	Giuseppe Tentori, GT Fish & Oyster, Chicago
	Paul Virant, Vie, Western Springs, IL
	Andrew Zimmerman, Sepia, Chicago
Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic
Andrew Araneo, Drew's Bayshore Bistro, Keyport, NJ
	Cathal Armstrong, Restaurant Eve, Alexandria, VA
	Pierre Calmels, Bibou, Philadelphia
	Jay Caputo, Espuma, Rehoboth Beach, DE
	Tony Conte, The Oval Room, Washington, D.C.
	Scott Drewno, The Source, Washington, D.C.
	David Gilberg, Koo Zee Doo, Philadelphia
	Spike Gjerde, Woodberry Kitchen, Baltimore
	Michael Krikorian, Copper Canyon, Atlantic Highlands, NJ
	Johnny Monis, Komi, Washington, D.C.
	Peter Pastan, Obelisk, Washington, D.C.
	Konstantinos Pitsillides, Kanella, Philadelphia
	Maricel Presilla, Cucharamama, Hoboken, NJ
	Dale Reitzer, Acacia, Richmond, VA
	Chip Roman, Blackfish, Conshohocken, PA
	Kevin Sousa, Salt of the Earth, Pittsburgh
	Vikram Sunderam, Rasika, Washington, D.C.
	Marcie Turney, Barbuzzo, Philadelphia
	Bryan Voltaggio, Volt, Frederick, MD
	Cindy Wolf, Charleston, Baltimore
Best Chef: Midwest
M.J. Adams, The Corn Exchange, Rapid City, SD
	Justin Aprahamian, Sanford, Milwaukee
	Mike Brown and James Winberg, Travail Kitchen and Amusements, Robbinsdale, MN
	Steven Brown, Tilia, Minneapolis
	Gerard Craft, Niche, St. Louis
	Doug Flicker, Piccolo, Minneapolis
	Josh Galliano, Monarch, St. Louis
	Colby Garrelts, Bluestem, Kansas City, MO
	Ted Habiger, Room 39, Kansas City, MO
	Jan Kelly, Meritage, Milwaukee
	Russell Klein, Meritage, St. Paul, MN
	Paul Kulik, The Boiler Room, Omaha, NE
	Stephen Logsdon, Lucca, Des Moines, IA
	Tory Miller, L'Etoile, Madison, WI
	Shinji Muramoto, Restaurant Muramoto, Madison, WI
	Kevin Nashan, Sidney Street Cafe, St. Louis
	Lenny Russo, Heartland Restaurant & Farm Direct Market, St. Paul, MN
	Dan Van Rite, Hinterland, Milwaukee
	Kevin Willmann, Farmhaus, St. Louis
	Stewart Woodman, Heidi's, Minneapolis
Best Chef: Northeast
Jamie Bissonnette, Coppa, Boston
	Jason Bond, Bondir, Cambridge, MA
	Kara Brooks, Still River Café, Eastford, CT
	Penelle, Megan, and Phoebe Chase and Ted LaFage, Chase's Daily, Belfast, ME
	Tim Cushman, O Ya, Boston
	Krista Kern Desjarlais, Bresca, Portland, ME
	Jeffrey Gimmel, Swoon Kitchenbar, Hudson, NY
	Gerry Hayden, The North Fork Table & Inn, Southold, NY
	Brian Hill, Francine Bistro, Camden, ME
	Dano Hutnik, Dano's Heuriger on Seneca, Lodi, NY
	Liz Jackson, Libby's Bistro, Gorham, NH
	Matt and Kate Jennings, La Laiterie, Providence, RI
	Serge Madikians, Serevan, Amenia, NY
	Demos Regas, Emilitsa, Portland, ME
	Bjorn Somlo, Nudel, Lenox, MA
	Champe Speidel, Persimmon, Bristol, RI
	Danai Sriprasert and Nattasak Wongsaichua, Boda, Portland, ME
	Bill Taibe, LeFarm, Westport, CT
	Sai Viswanath, DeWolf Tavern, Bristol, RI
	Eric Warnstedt, Hen of the Wood, Waterbury, VT
Best Chef: Northwest
Chris Ainsworth, Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen, Walla Walla, WA
	Aaron Barnett, Restaurant St. Jack, Portland, OR
	Matthew Bennett, Sybaris, Albany, OR
	Matt Costello, The Inn at Langley, Langley, WA
	Matt Dillon, Sitka & Spruce, Seattle
	Jeff Drew, Snake River Grill, Jackson Hole, WY
	Renee Erickson, Boat Street Cafe, Seattle
	Jason Franey, Canlis, Seattle
	John Gorham, Toro Bravo, Portland, OR
	James Honaker, Bistro Enzo, Billings, MT
	Christopher Israel, Grüner, Portland, OR
	Jeff Keys, Vintage Restaurant, Ketchum, ID
	Brendan Mahaney, Belly, Eugene, OR
	Naomi Pomeroy, Beast, Portland, OR
	Adam Sappington, The Country Cat Dinner House & Bar, Portland, OR
	Ethan Stowell, Staple & Fancy Mercantile, Seattle
	Jason Stratton, Spinasse, Seattle
	Cathy Whims, Nostrana, Portland, OR
	Justin Wills, Restaurant Beck, Depoe Bay, OR
	Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi, Joule, Seattle
Best Chef: NYC
Michael Anthony, Gramercy Tavern
	April Bloomfield, The Spotted Pig
	Marco Canora, Hearth
	Scott Conant, Scarpetta
	Wylie Dufresne, wd~50
	John Fraser, Dovetail
	Kurt Gutenbrunner, Wallsé
	Dan Kluger, ABC Kitchen
	Mark Ladner, Del Posto
	Paul Liebrandt, Corton
	Anita Lo, Annisa
	George Mendes, Aldea
	César Ramirez, Brooklyn Fare
	Sean Rembold, Diner
	Masa Takayama, Masa
	Bill Telepan, Telepan
	Rich Torrisi and Mario Carbone, Torrisi Italian Specialties
	Jonathan Waxman, Barbuto
	Michael White, Marea
	Galen Zamarra, Mas (farmhouse)
Best Chef: Pacific
Matthew Accarrino, SPQR, San Francisco
	William Bradley, Addison at the Grand Del Mar, San Diego
	Josef Centeno, The Lazy Ox Canteen, Los Angeles
	Michael Chiarello, Bottega, Yountville, CA
	Michael Cimarusti, Providence, Los Angeles
	Chris Cosentino, Incanto, San Francisco
	David Féau, The Royce at the Langham Huntington, Pasadena, CA
	Beverly Gannon, Hali'imaile General Store, Makawao, HI
	Loretta Keller, COCO500, San Francisco
	Christopher Kostow, The Restaurant at Meadowood, St. Helena, CA
	Mourad Lahlou, Aziza, San Francisco
	Corey Lee, Benu, San Francisco
	David LeFevre, MB Post, Manhattan Beach, CA
	Jim Moffat, Bar Acuda, Hanalei, HI
	Matt Molina, Osteria Mozza, Los Angeles
	Daniel Patterson, Coi, San Francisco
	Richard Reddington, Redd, Yountville, CA
	John Rivera Sedlar, Rivera, Los Angeles
	Paul Shoemaker, Savory, Malibu, CA
	Hiroyuki Urasawa, Urasawa, Beverly Hills, CA
Best Chef: South
Greg Baker, The Refinery, Tampa, FL
	Vishwesh Bhatt, Snackbar, Oxford, MS
	Clay Conley, Būccan, Palm Beach, FL
	Paula DaSilva, 1500º at Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach, Miami Beach, FL
	Justin Devillier, La Petite Grocery, New Orleans
	Justin Girouard, The French Press, Lafayette, LA
	John Harris, Lilette, New Orleans
	Chris Hastings, Hot and Hot Fish Club, Birmingham, AL
	Scott Hunnel, Victoria & Albert's at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Lake Buena Vista, FL
	Chad Johnson, SideBerns, Tampa, FL
	James Lewis, Bettola, Birmingham, AL
	Jeff McInnis, Yardbird Southern Table & Bar, Miami Beach, FL
	Tory McPhail, Commander's Palace, New Orleans
	Sergio Navarro, Pubbelly, Miami Beach, FL
	James and Julie Petrakis, The Ravenous Pig, Winter Park, FL
	Lee Richardson, Ashley's at the Capital Hotel, Little Rock, AR
	Jeanie Roland, The Perfect Caper, Punta Gorda, FL
	Henry Salgado, Spanish River Grill, New Smyrna Beach, FL
	Alon Shaya, Domenica, New Orleans
	Wesley True, True, Mobile, AL
Best Chef: Southeast
Hugh Acheson, Five and Ten, Athens, GA
	Billy Allin, Cakes & Ale, Decatur, GA
	Jeremiah Bacon, The Macintosh, Charleston, SC
	Tyler Brown, Capitol Grille at the Hermitage Hotel, Nashville, TN
	Ashley Christensen, Poole's, Raleigh, NC
	Craig Deihl, Cypress, Charleston, SC
	John Fleer, Canyon Kitchen at Lonesome Valley, Cashiers, NC
	Damian Heath, Lot 12 Public House, Berkeley Springs, WV
	Linton Hopkins, Restaurant Eugene, Atlanta
	Vivian Howard, Chef & the Farmer, Kinston, NC
	Scott Howell, Nana's, Durham, NC
	Anthony Lamas, Seviche, Louisville, KY
	Edward Lee, 610 Magnolia, Louisville, KY
	Joseph Lenn, The Barn at Blackberry Farm, Walland, TN
	Daniel Lindley, St. John's Restaurant, Chattanooga, TN
	Ouita Michel, Holly Hill Inn, Midway, KY
	Andrew Ticer and Michael Hudman, Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen, Memphis, TN
	Aaron Vandemark, Panciuto, Hillsborough, NC
	Ken Vedrinski, Trattoria Lucca, Charleston, SC
	Tandy Wilson, City House, Nashville, TN
Best Chef: Southwest
Bruce Auden, Biga on the Banks, San Antonio
	Kevin Binkley, Binkley's Restaurant, Cave Creek, AZ
	Bowman Brown and Viet Pham, Forage, Salt Lake City, UT
	Bruno Davaillon, Mansion Restaurant at Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, Dallas
	Mitsuo Endo, Aburiya Raku, Las Vegas
	Silvana Salcido Esparza, Barrio Café, Phoenix
	Mark Fischer, Six89, Carbondale, CO
	Manabu Horiuchi, Kata Robata, Houston
	Anita Jaisinghani, Indika, Houston
	Jennifer James, Jennifer James 101, Albuquerque, NM
	Jennifer Jasinski, Rioja, Denver
	Maiya Keck, Maiya's, Marfa, TX
	Frederick Muller, El Meze, Taos, NM
	John Murcko, Talisker on Main, Park City, UT
	Hugo Ortega, Hugo's, Houston
	Paul Qui, Uchi, Austin, TX
	Martín Rios, Restaurant Martín, Santa Fe
	Teiichi Sakurai, Tei-An, Dallas
	Alex Seidel, Fruition Restaurant, Denver
	John Sharpe, The Turquoise Room at La Posada Hotel & Gardens, Winslow, AZ