The James Beard Awards celebrate some of most prestigious names in food and hospitality. This year’s nominees were released this week, and Utah represented itself well with seven different nominations.
Here are this year’s semifinalists for Utah establishments:
- Lavanya Mahate, Saffron Valley Restaurants, Salt Lake City, Outstanding Restaurateur
- Mike Blocher and Nick Fahs, Table X, Salt Lake City, Best Chef
- Andrew Fuller, Oquirrh, Salt Lake City, Best Chef
- Matthew Harris, tupelo Park City, Park City, Best Chef
- Nick Zocco, Urban Hill, Salt Lake City, Best Chef
- Adalberto Diaz, Fillings and Emulsions, Outstanding pastry chef or baker
- Manoli’s, Outstanding hospitality
“The James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards are considered to be one the most prestigious recognition programs for members of the food, beverage, and hospitality industries in the United States who demonstrate excellence in their respective fields,” Dawn Padmore, VP of Awards, James Beard Foundation, said in an email.
How are the James Beard Awards chosen?
Semi-finalists and finalists are selected by committee and “culled from recommendations by the Restaurant and Chef Awards voting body,” Padmore told the Deseret News.
Application is open to any and all entrants who meet the qualifications of the program, and anyone can submit a chef or restaurant for consideration — there is no entry fees.
“We welcome entries and entrants from all categories of the independent restaurant community across the United States, from fine dining to more casual dining gems,” Padmore said.
What impact can a James Beard Award have?
Receiving the James Beard recognition can help with name recognition and can signal to restaurant-goers that a place is up-and-coming.
Two success story examples Padmore shared with Deseret News include:
- 2024 America’s Classic Winner Benny Lai of Vietnam Restaurant in Philadelphia, Penn., stated that recognition increased his business by around 50%.
- 2024 Outstanding Bakery Semifinalist D’Andrews Bakery & Cafe in Nashville, Tenn. had a 70% jump in business from the previous year.
Past James Beard nominees in Utah
2024
- Table X Bread, Semifinalist, Outstanding Bakery, 2024
- Valter’s Osteria, Semifinalist, Outstanding Hospitality, 2024
- Nick Zocco, Urban Hill, Semifinalist, Best Chef: Mountain, 2024
- Ali Sabbaa, Mazza, Semifinalist, Best Chef: Mountain, 2024
2023
- Normal Ice Cream, Semifinalist, Outstanding Bakery, 2023
- Manoli’s, Semifinalist, Outstanding Hospitality, 2023
- Hell’s Backbone Grill & Farm, Semifinalist, Outstanding Restaurant, 2023
- Ali Sabbah, Mazza, Semifinalist, Best Chef: Mountain, 2023
- Briar Handly, HANDLE, Semifinalist, Best Chef: Mountain, 2023
- Paul Chamberlain and Logen Crew, SLC Eatery, Semifinalist, Best Chef: Mountain, 2023
- Andrew Fuller, Oquirrh, Semifinalist, Best Chef: Mountain, 2023
- Young-Ho Kang and Peter Kim, The Angry Korean, Semifinalist, Best Chef: Mountain, 2023