On February 23rd, The James Beard Awards Semifinalists were announced after the prestigious award took a full two-year hiatus. 13 of the semi-finalists are from Colorado and so if you’re wondering who to be on the look out for this year, check out the full lists of semi-finalists from Colorado, a bunch of new and old faces.
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Edwin Zoe – Outstanding Restauranteur
Edwin Zoe of Zoe Ma Ma and Chimera Ramen is of Boulder and Denver fame and has brought his unique perspective and heritage to the food scene. Zoe Ma Ma’s menu is a direct response to Zoe’s mother, Anna Zoe’s familial cooking while Chimera Ramen is a mix of Zoe’s cultural upbringing in Taiwan and the states.
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Manuel “Manny” Barella – Emerging Chef
Manny is the chef behind Bellota, a Mexican restaurant that sticks to traditions and customs located inside the Source Hotel and Market Hall.
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Josh Niernberg – Outstanding Chef
Niernberg is the creative mind behind Bin 707 Foodbar, a full service seasonal Colorado restaurant serving dinner daily with an extensive and well-crafted wine menu to match.
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Spuntino – Outstanding Hospitality
Spuntino is one of the best Italian restaurants in the city, and has many awards and accolades under its belt from Best Italian Restaurant to Best Wine List.
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Casian Seafood – Best New Restaurant
Asian and Cajun-fusion seafood restaurant, Casian Seafood, has been nominated in Lafayette, Colorado.
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The Little Nell – Outstanding Wine Program
The Little Nell hotel, a five-star luxurious hotel in Aspen, has been nominated for Outstanding Wine Program, likely for their well-trained sommeliers (they graduated 11 of North America’s Sommeliers, the most of any establishment in North America) and amazing wine events.
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Caroline Glover, Mawa McQueen, Eric Skokan, Luis Young, Jose Avila, Cody Cheetham, Dana Rodriguez – Best Chef (Moutain- CO, ID, MT, UT)
In the Mountain Category of best chefs, which includes Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and Utah, 7 of our chefs took home a nomination. From Dana Rodriguez who runs Work & Class, Cantina Loca, and will be the chef behind Casa Bonita’s new menu, to Caroline Glover who runs Annette in Aurora. Luis Young in Colorado Springs runs Penrose Room at the Broadmoor, and Mawa McQueen, who runs Aspen’s only Black-owned restaurants, is on the list as well as Eric Skokan of Black Cat Farm in Boulder. Finally, Jose Avila who runs El Borrego Negro and X’tabai Yucateco, that does Oaxacan barbacoa and Yucatan food, respectively, and Cody Cheetham who runs Tavernetta, which does outstanding Italian.
Stay tuned as winners will be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on June 13.
[featured image by stanleymarketplace via instagram]