Congratulations to all our Bay Area James Beard Award 2015 semifinalists! You'll see some familiar names and some new names. The final nonimees will be announced next month, and the awards will take place on May 4 in Chicago. Until then, check out which locals made the first cut.
Best New Restaurant
The Progress, San Francisco
Lazy Bear, San Francisco
Outstanding Baker
Belinda Leong and Michel Suas, B. Patisserie, San Francisco
Edmund and Kathleen Weber, Della Fattoria, Petaluma, CA William Werner, Craftsman and Wolves, San Francisco
Outstanding Bar Program
Bar Agricole, San Francisco
Trick Dog, San Francisco
Outstanding Chef
Traci Des Jardins, Jardinière, San Francisco
Nancy Oakes, Boulevard, San Francisco
Michael Tusk, Quince, San Francisco
Outstanding Pastry Chef
Bill Corbett, Absinthe Group, San Francisco
Ron Mendoza, Aubergine at L'Auberge Carmel, Carmel, CA
Outstanding Restaurant
Acquerello, San Francisco
Greens, San Francisco
Restaurant Gary Danko, San Francisco
Outstanding Restaurateur
Umberto Gibin, San Francisco (Perbacco and Barbacco)
Michael Mina, Mina Restaurants, San Francisco
Cindy Pawlcyn, Napa, CA (Mustards Grill and Cindy's Back Street Kitchen)
Outstanding Service
Aubergine at L'Auberge Carmel, Carmel, CA
Perbacco, San Francisco
Quince, San Francisco
Saison, San Francisco
Outstanding Wine Program
A16, San Francisco
Casanova, Carmel, CA
Press, St. Helena, CA
La Toque, Napa, CA
Outstanding Wine, Beer, or Spirits Professional
Jon Gasparini and Greg Lindgren, Rye on the Road, San Francisco
Ted Lemon, Littorai Wines, Sebastopol, CA
Steve Matthiasson, Matthiasson Wines, Napa, CA
Rajat Parr, Mina Group, San Francisco
Rising Star of the Year
Jessica Largey, Manresa, Los Gatos, CA
Jeremy Wayne, La Folie, San Francisco
Best Chef: West
Matthew Accarrino, SPQR, San Francisco
Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski, State Bird Provisions, San Francisco
Dominique Crenn, Atelier Crenn, San Francisco
Tyler Florence, Wayfare Tavern, San Francisco
Mourad Lahlou, Aziza, San Francisco
Corey Lee, Benu, San Francisco
Russell Moore, Camino, Oakland, CA
Jennifer Puccio, Marlowe, San Francisco
Joshua Skenes, Saison, San Francisco
To view the entire roster of the 2015 semifinalists, go here.
