The semi-final list of nominees for this year’s James Beard Awards were released today. Several Maine chefs and restaurants are on the list:
- Best New Restaurant — Shepherd’s Pie in Rockport
- Outstanding Chef — both hometown favorite Sam Hayward from Fore Street and Melissa Kelly, chef/owner of of Primo in Rockland are in contention
- Outstanding Restaurant — Fore Street
- Best Chef: Northeast — Krista Kern Desjarlais, Bresca; Demos Regas, Emilitsa; Brian Hill, Francine, Camden; and Megan Chase, Penelle Chase, Phoebe Chase, and Ted LaFage, Chase’s Daily, Belfast
Sam Hayward and Melissa Kelly are both past winners in the Best Chef category. Fore Street has been in contention in the Outstanding Restaurant category before. All four semi-finalists for Best Chef: Northeast have been semi-final nominees or nominees in past years in either Best Chef: Northeast or Best New Restaurant.
The final list of nominees will be announced on March 21st and the awards ceremony is scheduled for May 9th.
Congratulations and good luck to them all.