James Beard nominees include some familiar names

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Recognize these? José Andrés, Tom Colicchio, Suzanne Goin, Babbo, ‘In Defense of Food’ and ‘The Big Fat Duck Cookbook.’

They’re just a handful of the James Beard Foundation nominees announced this morning, recognizing the best in food. The nominees were revealed for the first time ever via Twitter @beardfoundation.

The full list of nominees is posted here at the Beard Foundation website. Here are a few of the highlights pulled from the Twitter feed:

Outstanding chef -- José Andrés, Dan Barber, Tom Colicchio, Suzanne Goin and Paul Kahan

Best chef: Pacific -- Jeremy Fox, Douglas Keane, Loretta Keller, David Kinch and Daniel Patterson

Outstanding restaurant -- Babbo, Boulevard, Fore Street, Highlands Bar & Grill and Jean Georges

General cooking -- ‘How to Cook Everything’ (10th anniversary edition), ‘Martha Stewart’s Cooking School’ and ‘The Bon Appétit Fast Easy Fresh Cookbook’

Restaurant reviews -- Jonathan Gold (LA Weekly), Adam Platt (New York Magazine) and Tom Sietsema (Washington Post)

Rising Star nominees -- Nate Appleman, Sean Brock, Johnny Monis, Gabriel Rucker, Michael Solomonov, and Sue Zemanick

Writing and literature -- ‘In Defense of Food,’ ‘Shark’s Fin and Sichuan Pepper’ and ‘Raising Steaks’

Baking -- ‘BakeWise,’ ‘Baking for All Occasions’ and ‘The Art and Soul of Baking’

The 2009 lifetime-achievement honoree is Ella Brennan of the Brennan Family of Restaurants, which includes Commander’s Palace.

-- Rene Lynch