Bay Area Well Represented With James Beard Award Finalists

The announcement of the finalists for this year’s James Beard Awards brought in many cheers with the Bay Area well represented in several categories.

Keeping the momentum rolling from the Michelin star awards last fall, San Francisco dominated the Best Chef, west division, with nominations for Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski of State Bird Provisions, Corey Lee of Benu and Daniel Patterson of Col.

Swanky Spanish eatery Coqueta received a nod for Best New Restaurant, while The Slanted Door, Charles Phan’s flagship restaurant located just down the Embarcadero in the Ferry Building, is up for Outstanding Restaurant.

Manresa, the Los Gatos purveyor of fine California dining, is like the American Hustle to this year’s Oscars, with David Kinch up for Outstanding Chef, Jessica Largey up for Rising Star Chef of the Year, as well as recognition for the restaurant’s recently released cookbook.

SoMa’s Bar Agricole earned a nod for Outstanding Bar Program, and Italian restaurant A16 is nominated for Outstanding Wine Program. (Previously we spoke to wine director Shelley Lindgren about A16’s success).

Belinda Leong of b. patisserie fame is a finalist in the Outstanding Pastry Chef category alongside the likes of venerable New York chefs Dominique Ansel and Christina Tosi. (Although we’d say Leong’s kouign-amman kicks Ansel’s cronut and Tosi’s crack pie to the nearest compost bin any day).

Rounding out the Bay Area nominations are Napa Valley’s Cindy Pawlcyn for Best Restaurateur, and San Francisco’s Quince and St. Helena’s The Restaurant at Meadowood for Outstanding Service.

On the literary side, Fatted Calf’s cookbook In the Charcuterie and Tartine’s Tartine Book No. 3 are also nominated, as is the San Francisco Chronicle’s Food & Wine section.