Here Are the Local James Beard Foundation Semifinalists for 2019

Today, the James Beard Foundation dropped its list of semifinalists for the 2019 restaurant and chef awards, with a strong showing from New England. Last October, the foundation changed its policies with a goal of diversifying the decision makers and award winners. The makeup of its awards committees mirror U.S. census demographics for the first time.

With the semifinalist announcement today, judges and committee members will now vote to pare the list down to five finalist nominees per category; that list will be announced in Houston on March 27. The final winners will be announced on May 6 in Chicago, while the media award winners will be unveiled on April 26.

Here are the New England semifinalists for 2019 James Beard Foundation restaurant and chef awards, which include familiar names from past years, such as Irene Li, Cassie Piuma, Ken Oringer, and Tony Messina:

Massachusetts

People

• Maura Kilpatrick (Sofra Bakery and Café, Cambridge) — Outstanding Baker semifinalist
• Ana Sortun (Oleana, Cambridge) — Outstanding Chef semifinalist
• Ken Oringer (Little Donkey, Toro, Uni, and others, Boston and beyond) — Outstanding Restaurateur semifinalist
• Irene Li (Mei Mei, Boston) — Rising Star Chef of the Year semifinalist
• Giselle Miller (Menton, Boston) — Rising Star Chef of the Year semifinalist
• Unmi Abkin (Coco & The Cellar Bar, Easthampton) — Best Chef: Northeast semifinalist
• Carl Dooley (The Table at Season to Taste, Cambridge) — Best Chef: Northeast semifinalist
• Tiffani Faison (Tiger Mama, Boston) — Best Chef: Northeast semifinalist
• Seizi Imura (Cafe Sushi, Cambridge) — Best Chef: Northeast semifinalist
• Tony Messina (Uni, Boston) — Best Chef: Northeast semifinalist
• Cassie Piuma (Sarma, Somerville) — Best Chef: Northeast semifinalist
• Peter Ungár (Tasting Counter, Somerville) — Best Chef: Northeast semifinalist

Restaurants

• Celeste (Somerville) — Best New Restaurant semifinalist
• Chickadee (Boston) — Best New Restaurant semifinalist
• The Baldwin Bar (Woburn) — Outstanding Bar Program semifinalist
• O Ya (Boston) — Outstanding Restaurant semifinalist
• The Butcher Shop (Boston) — Outstanding Wine Program semifinalist
• Haley.Henry (Boston) — Outstanding Wine Program semifinalist

Maine

People

• Alison Pray (Standard Baking Co., Portland) — Outstanding Baker semifinalist
• Chad Conley and Greg Mitchell (Palace Diner, Biddeford) — Best Chef: Northeast semifinalist
• Krista Kern Desjarlais (The Purple House, North Yarmouth) — Best Chef: Northeast semifinalist
• Vien Dobui (Cong Tu Bot, Portland) — Best Chef: Northeast semifinalist
• Erin French (The Lost Kitchen, Freedom) — Best Chef: Northeast semifinalist
• Keiko Suzuki Steinberger (Suzuki’s Sushi Bar, Rockland) — Best Chef: Northeast semifinalist
• Rob Tod (Allagash Brewing Company, Portland) — Outstanding Wine, Spirits, or Beer Producer semifinalist

Restaurants

• Fore Street (Portland) — Outstanding Restaurant semifinalist
• Back Bay Grill (Portland) — Outstanding Service semifinalist

Connecticut

• Whang Suh (Hen & Heifer, Guilford) — Outstanding Pastry Chef semifinalist
• Tyler Anderson (Millwright’s, Simsbury) — Best Chef: Northeast semifinalist

Vermont

• Deirdre Heekin (La Garagista, Bethel) — Outstanding Wine, Spirits, or Beer Producer semifinalist
• Cara Chigazola-Tobin (Honey Road, Burlington) — Best Chef: Northeast semifinalist

New Hampshire

• Evan Mallett ( Black Trumpet, Portsmouth) — Best Chef: Northeast semifinalist
• David Vargas (Vida Cantina, Portsmouth) — Best Chef: Northeast semifinalist

Rhode Island

• James Mark (North, Providence) — Best Chef: Northeast semifinalist
• Benjamin Sukle (Oberlin, Providence) — Best Chef: Northeast semifinalist

Disclosure: Some Vox Media staff members are part of the voting body for the James Beard Foundation Awards.

• James Beard Foundation [Official Site]
• Here Are the 2019 James Beard Awards Restaurant and Chef Semifinalists [E]
• How the James Beard Awards Are Trying to Be More Diverse [E]