Beard Award nominees

Today the James Beard Foundation announced the nominees for the 2008 James Beard Foundation Awards during a press breakfast at the historic James Beard House in New York City’s West Village. There were nominees in 52 categories including restaurant and chef, books, journalism, design and graphics, and broadcast media. 

Highlights from this year’s list of nominees include:

Outstanding Restaurant: Boulevard (Chef/Owner: Nancy Oakes, Owner: Pat Kuleto, San Francisco, CA); Campanile (Chef/Owner: Mark Peel, Los Angeles, CA); Gramercy Tavern (Owner: Danny Meyer, New York, NY); Jean Georges (Chef/Owner: Jean-Georges Vongerichten, New York, NY); The Slanted Door (Chef/Owner: Charles Phan, San Francisco, CA).

Outstanding Chef: Grant Achatz (Alinea, Chicago, IL); José Andrés (Minibar, Washington, DC); Dan Barber (Blue Hill, New York, NY); Suzanne Goin (Lucques, Los Angeles, CA); Frank Stitt (Highlands Bar & Grill, Birmingham, AL).

Rising Star Chef: Nate Appleman (A 16, San Francisco, CA); Sean Brock (McCrady’s, Charleston, SC); Gavin Kaysen (Café Boulud, New York, NY); Johnny Monis (Komi, Washington, DC); Matt Molina (Osteria Mozza, Los Angeles, CA); Gabriel Rucker (Le Pigeon, Portland, OR).

Best New Restaurant: Anthos (Chef/Owner: Michael Psilakis, Owner: Donatella Arpaia, New York, NY); Central Michel Richard (Chef/Owner: Michel Richard, Washington, DC); Fearing’s at the Ritz-Carlton (Chef/Owner: Dean Fearing, Dallas, TX); Osteria Mozza (Chef: Matt Molina; Owners: Nancy Silverton, Mario Batali, Joseph Bastianich, Los Angeles, CA); Osteria (Chef/Owners: Marc Vetri, Jeff Michaud, Owner: Jeff Benjamin, Philadelphia, PA).

Not a Florida name among them. I talked to Izabela Wojcik, the director of house programming for the Beard Foundation, last week. I was wondering what Florida Gulf Coast chefs are scheduled for events at the Beard House this year.

She said, "I am still working on the programming calendar for the rest of the year. At this point, nothing jumps out at me as Gulf chefs. More typically, it’s chefs from Miami or Ft. Lauderdale. The only one at the moment is Chris Otten from Nine One Five in Key West. Perhaps you can recommend some for my consideration?"

And I said I would come up with a list. Any thoughts?

Comments

[Gwyn]

Chef Ponte maybe...

[Hank]

Just a thought here, but shouldn’t a prerequisite for nominating be that a person should have visited at least 3 or 4 of the current or recent past nominees/winners restaurants?

*Slanted Door should be nominated in design as well. This is what a waterfront restaurant could be here in the Tampa area.

My recommendation (maybe next year) would be Savant in Clearwater if they continue to develop the menu.

[Sue T.]

The food at the Slanted Door is fantastic, but the noise... there's no way you can have a conversation in that place unless you know sign language.

[The Mouth]

Sue, agree with you about Slanted Door. Their old location in the Mission was one of my favorite places (but, come to think of it, that joint was every bit as loud). Wonder why they haven't done anything about the din.

And Hank, you're saying that the nominees themselves should patronize previous years' winners before they're eligible? And I'm pretty impressed with David Miller at Savant. Only eaten there once, but he clearly has chops and ambition.

[Hank]

Ladies, can you remember the lush carpaccio? Or the Shaky Beef? How about that Duck Confit, wow what texture. Sheer delight! Noise? What noise? LOL

And what is the name of the oyster bar just a bit north of the entrance to Slanted door? Killer drinks and oysters. Really cool vibe there.

Mouth, I am stating that readers that are nominating restaurants should have visited at least a handful of the current/past nominees. The James Beard award is rarified air and the standard is quite different than what we experience here (overall) in Tampa.

And speaking of Savant,,,,,,,,,,,,, think chocolate. This guy is creating serious chocolate. If you are anywhere near Drew and US19, stop in and buy a piece or two. You will not regret it. IMHO every bit as good and more adventurous creations than Fritz Knipschildt chocolate (which to my extreme pleasure can be found locally).

[Lindsey]

How about Cork on St. Armands Circle. I just went to a Krug tasting dinner there and the food was AMAZING.

Other thoughts are Shawn Murphy's Beach Bistro in Anna Maria Island.
Thanks

[king]

I would definitely say chef Richard Bottini at the Tampa Six Tables. His menu creations are spectacular. he is not afraid to do a lot of stuff in his kitchen... a huge step away from what is usually seen in the area. I would go as far to say he could stand against the French Laundry.