James Beard names semifinalists for 2011 awards

 

The semifinalists for the 2011 James Beard Foundation's restaurant and chef awards were announced Thursday. (Good luck getting on the James Beard website.) There are 19 categories, including best new restaurant, outstanding chef, rising star chef of the year and 10 regional best chefs. A-Frame and Waterloo & City are among the nominees for best new restaurant. Suzanne Goin is in the running for outstanding chef, and Mélisse is a contender for outstanding restaurant. Of the 20 semifinalists in the best chef Pacific category, eight are from Los Angeles. 

See the full list of local nominees after the jump. 

BEST NEW RESTAURANT

A-Frame, Los Angeles

Waterloo & City, Culver City

OUTSTANDING CHEF

Suzanne Goin, Lucques, Los Angeles

OUTSTANDING PASTRY CHEF

Dahlia Narvaez, Osteria Mozza, Los Angeles

OUTSTANDING RESTAURANT

Mélisse, Santa Monica

OUTSTANDING SERVICE

Providence, Los Angeles

OUTSTANDING WINE SERVICE

Hatfield's, Los Angeles, Peter Birmingham

Patina, Los Angeles, Silvestre Fernandes

RISING STAR CHEF OF THE YEAR

Benjamin Bailly, Fraîche, Culver City

Casey Lane, The Tasting Kitchen, Venice

BEST CHEF: PACIFIC

Josef Centeno, Lazy Ox Canteen, Los Angeles

Michael Cimarusti, Providence, Los Angeles

Josiah Citrin, Mélisse, Santa Monica

Vinny Dotolo and Jon Shook, Animal, Los Angeles

Andrew Kirschner, Wilshire, Santa Monica

Laurent Quenioux, Bistro LQ, Los Angeles

John Sedlar, Rivera, Los Angeles

-- Betty Hallock

Photo: Waterloo & City chef Brendan Collins, left, with partner Carolos Tomazos. Credit: Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times