New Orleans is once again well-represented in the competition for the so-called Oscars of the food world, the James Beard Awards, whose nominees were announced Wednesday.
Frequent James Beard nominee and winner Donald Link of Herbsaint is nominated for Outstanding Chef in the country.
Another local finalist in a national category is Ana Castro of Coquette. She is nominated as Rising Star Chef of the Year, an award presented to a chef age 30 or younger.
Four local chefs are finalists in the category of Best Chef: South, including Kristen Essig and Michael Stoltzfus of Coquette; Slade Rushing, Brennan’s; and Isaac Toups of Toups' Meatery. The Best Chef: South category is open to chefs in Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Arkansas and Puerto Rico. Local semifinalists who did not advance in the final round were Michael Gulotta of Maypop and Mason Hereford of Turkey and the Wolf.
Kelly Fields of Willa Jean is a national nominee for Outstanding Pastry Chef while Bacchanal is a finalist for Outstanding Wine Program in the country.
Brigtsen's, the award-winning namesake restaurant of chef Frank and Marna Brigtsen, is nominated for outstanding service.
JoAnn Clevenger, the longtime proprietor of Upperline, is once again nominated for Outstanding Restaurateur.
In the James Beard Foundation’s book award category, Justin Nystrom, author and Loyola University associate professor of history, is nominated for his book Creole Italian, How Sicilian Immigrants Shaped the Culture of America’s Most Interesting Food Town. The book, published by University of Georgia Press, explores the influence Sicilian immigrants have had on New Orleans' food culture and history.
Restaurant writer Brett Anderson of NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune was also nominated in the journalism category for his reporting on the local food scene. He is a nominee for the Jonathan Gold Local Voice Award.
Restaurant winners will be announced at a ceremony in Chicago on May 6. Book and media awards will be announced on April 26.
Two local restaurants, Bywater American Bistro (the second restaurant for chef Nina Compton, who won the Best Chef: South award last year) and The Elysian Bar, were previously named semifinalists for the Beard Award for best new restaurant in America but did not advance to the next round.
