The James Beard Foundation announced today its list of Restaurant and Chef Award semifinalists in advance of the 30th annual James Beard Awards Presented by Capital One. The prestigious group of semifinalists represents a wide collection of culinary talent, from exceptional chefs and dining destinations across twelve regions to the Best New Restaurant, Outstanding Bar Program, Outstanding Baker, and a Rising Star Chef 30 years of age or under.
The full list of 2020 semifinalists can be reviewed directly at the James Beard Foundation website: https://www.jamesbeard.org/awards
The Foundation will announce the final nominees for all Award categories during a live press conference in Philadelphia on Wednesday, March 25, 2020, in partnership with Constellation Culinary Group. Jeff Guaracino, president and CEO of VISIT PHILADELPHIA®, and Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation, will co-host the press conference and corresponding breakfast at The Barnes Foundation.
Nominees for more than 50 awards categories, including Restaurant and Chef, Restaurant Design, and Media will be announced. The event will take place at 9:00 A.M. ET and will be streamed live online (details on the James Beard Foundation website).
Overview of Restaurant and Chef Awards Process
The James Beard Foundation holds an online open call for entries beginning in mid-October of each year. Entries received, along with input solicited from an independent volunteer group of more than 250 panelists around the country, are reviewed by the Restaurant and Chef Committee to determine eligibility and regional representation. Based on the results and eligibility requirements for each award, the committee then produces a nominating ballot that lists the semifinalists in each of the 23 Restaurant and Chef Award categories. The list of semifinalists is then voted on by more than 600 judges from across the country to determine the final nominees in each category. The same group of judges, which comprises leading regional restaurant critics, food and wine editors, culinary educators, and past James Beard Award winners, then votes on the nominees to select the winners. Tabulations to determine the nominees and winners are done by independent auditors EisnerAmper. The governing Awards committee, board of trustees, and staff of the James Beard Foundation do not vote, and the results are kept confidential until the presentation of winners in May.
James Beard Awards policies and procedures can be reviewed at jamesbeard.org/awards/policies.
