Beard nominations show little love for L.A. [Updated]

The 2010 James Beard Foundation award nominations announced Monday morning virtually ignored the Southern California food scene. Out of 55 categories, local writers and chefs got just a few nominations, led by best chef nominee Suzanne Goin, left, of Lucques and Tavern.

Part-time residents José Andrés, who has a spin-off restaurant Bazaar here, and Tom Colicchio, who has a spin-off Craft, were also nominated. Providence's Michael Cimarusti and Mozza's Matt Molina were both nominated for best chef in the Pacific region. In the journalism awards, Los Angeles magazine's Patric Kuh and the LA Weekly's Jonathan Gold received nominations. And "Love Soup," a cookbook by Ojai's Anna Thomas, was nominated in the Healthy Focus category.*

The awards ceremonies will be held the first weekend in May in New York, with the media and book awards on May 2 and the main awards on May 3. The nominations in each category are suggested by a committee of volunteers. 

Among the headline categories, in addition to Goin, Andrés and Colicchio, nominations for outstanding chef include San Francisco's Gary Danko from Restaurant Gary Danko and Charles Phan from Slanted Door.

Best new restaurant nominees are Philadelphia's Bibou, San Francisco's Flour + Water, Frances and RN74 and New York's Marea and Locanda Verde.

Outstanding restaurants were New York's Babbo and Daniel, San Francisco's Boulevard, Birmingham, Ala.'s Highlands Bar & Grill and Chicago's Spiaggia.

Outstanding restaurateur nominates went to Seattle's Tom Douglas, San Francisco's Pat Kuleto, New York's Keith McNally, Chicago's Richard Melman and Philadelphia's Stephen Starr. 

For a complete list of nominations in all categories, go to the awards website.

*Updated at 4:45 p.m. A previous version of this post didn't include Thomas.

-- Russ Parsons

Photo of Suzanne Goin by EPA / Andrew Gombert

Comments

[jenn]

Good! I think the LA food sceen needs a wake up call the they are not "all that" and no matter how many celebs and fake celebs eat at your restaurant ir does not make you good.