The James Beard Foundation on Wednesday released the list of chefs and restaurateurs who are semifinalists in the annual James Beard Awards, which celebrate the best restaurants, bakeries and bars in America.
About a dozen semifinalists hail from Colorado, including Tommy Lee, chef and owner of Denver’s Uncle ramen restaurants, Chinese restaurant Hop Alley and Aurora’s Molino Chido. Lee is up for outstanding restaurateur.
The other names and locations up for national awards are:
- Josh Niernberg of Bin 707 Foodbar, Grand Junction (Outstanding Chef)
- Kizaki, Denver (Best New Restaurant)
- Poulette Bakeshop, Parker (Outstanding Bakery)
- Emily Thompson of The Wolf’s Tailor, Denver (Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker)
- Restaurant Olivia, Denver (Outstanding Hospitality)
- Lady Jane, Denver (Outstanding Bar)
- Van Atta, Telluride (Best New Bar)
- Ryan Fletter of Barolo Grill, Denver (Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service)
- McLain Hedges and Mary Allison Wright of Yacht Club, Denver (Outstanding Professionals in Cocktail Service)
The following Colorado chefs are up for best chef in the mountain region, which includes picks from Idaho, Montana, Utah and Wyoming:
- Theo Adley of Marigold, Lyons
- Johnny Curiel of Alma Fonda Fina, Denver
- Dave Grant and Rocky Hunter of Gladys, Edgewater
- Miles Odell of Odell’s Bagels, Denver
- Bo Porytko of Molotov Kitschen + Cocktails, Denver
- Kenneth Wan of MAKfam, Denver
- Penelope Wong of Yuan Wonton, Denver
See the full list of semifinalists on the James Beard Foundation website.
Last year, Boulder’s Frasca Food and Wine won the foundation’s top honor for Outstanding Restaurant, the only prize awarded to Colorado’s nominees.
The final nominees for awards will be whittled down and shared on Tuesday, March 31. The James Beard Foundation will announce award winners Monday, June 15 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.