FOOD NEWS: James Beard Award Semifinalists

Photo Credit: James Beard Foundation

Last month the James Beard Foundation announced the 2015 Restaurant and Chef Award Semifinalists. As always, Washington state has a good representation of outstanding chefs and restaurants. Here is a list of the Washington state Semifinalists. The finalists will be announced on March 24th, 2015, at the James Beard House in New York City.
  
Outstanding Baker
Evan Andres, Columbia City Bakery - Columbia City, Seattle

Outstanding Bar Program
Canon - Capitol Hill, Seattle

Outstanding Chef
Holly Smith, Cafe Juanita - Kirkland, WA

Outstanding Restaurant
Canlis - Queen Anne, Seattle

Outstanding Restaurateur
Ethan Stowell, Ethan Stowell Restaurants (Staple and Fancy, How to Cook a Wolf, Anchovies & Olives, Chippy's, MKT., Red Cow, Rione XIII, Tavolata, Ballard Pizza Company) - Seattle

Outstanding Wine Program
Wild Ginger - Downtown Seattle and Bellevue, WA

Rising Star of the Year
Jay Blackinton, Hogstone Wood Oven - Orcas Island, WA

Best Chef: Northwest
Eric Donnelly, RockCreek - Fremont, Seattle
Renee Erickson, The Whale Wins - Wallingford, Seattle
Jeremy Hansen, Sante - Spokane, WA
Nathan Lockwood, Altura - Capitol Hill, Seattle
Garrett Melkonian, Mamnoon - Capitol Hill, Seattle
Dustin Ronspies, Art of the Table - Fremont, Seattle
Jason Stratton, Spinasse - Capitol Hill, Seattle
Blaine Wetzel, The Willows Inn on Lummi Island - Lummi Island, WA
Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi, Joule - Wallingford, Seattle

A full list of all the national Semifinalists can be found at the James Beard Foundation website.

Congratulations to all the Semifinalists and good luck!