These Are Philly’s James Beard Award Semifinalists for 2019
The foundation's "long list" of restaurants and chefs up for awards this year just dropped, and Philly's all over it.
James Beard Foundation
The list of semifinalists for the 2019 James Beard Awards has been announced, and Philly-area chefs and restaurants have made a strong showing once again.
Familiar names — Elmi, Martinez, Baldino, Yin —pop up on this year’s list, but there are some newcomers, too. Suraya’s James Matty earned his first nomination for Best Pastry Chef. And although owner Tom Peters has made the semis in the Beer, Wine, and Spirits Professional category a handful of times, Monk’s Cafe got its first nod under Outstanding Bar Program.
In fact, chefs and restaurants in the area outside the city make up more than a third of the area’s nominees, with several first-timers showing up on this year’s list. New names from outside the city include West Chester’s well-rated Andiario, as well as contemporary Italian concept Bardea Food & Drink, which opened last fall in Wilmington. They’re both up for the Best New Restaurant category.
Bolete, long a Lehigh Valley destination for its bespoke ethos and locally sourced menu, earned its first nomination in the Outstanding Restaurant category (chef-owner Lee Chizmar made the semis in 2015 for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic). Collingswood sushi stalwart Sagami, a semifinalist back in 2015, joins them in the category.
The region racked up 16 semifinalists on this year’s list, up from 15 chefs and restaurants nominated in 2018. Camille Cogswell of Zahav brought home Philly’s lone award last year, becoming only the second pastry chef to be named Rising Star Chef.
We’ll know who made it to the next round on March 27th, when the foundation will announce this year’s finalists. Check out this year’s full list of Philly-area James Beard Award semifinalists below.
Best New Restaurant
Andiario, West Chester
Bardea Food & Drink, Wilmington
Outstanding Baker
Tova du Plessis, Essen Bakery
Outstanding Bar Program
Monk’s Café
Outstanding Chef
Marc Vetri, Vetri Cucina
Outstanding Pastry Chef
James Matty, Suraya
Outstanding Restaurant
Bolete, Bethlehem
Sagami, Collingswood
Zahav
Outstanding Restaurateur
Ellen Yin, High Street Hospitality Group
Outstanding Service
Chef Vola’s, Atlantic City
Rising Star Chef
Jesse Ito, Royal Izakaya
Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic
Joey Baldino, Zeppoli, Collingswood
Nicholas Elmi, Laurel
Rich Landau, Vedge
Cristina Martinez, South Philly Barbacoa
