James Beard Foundation Recognizes Local Talent with Awards Nominations

The 2016 James Beard Awards Foundation semifinalists were announced this morning and five Denver chefs and a Boulder restaurant have made the prestigious list.

Award-winning restaurant Frasca Food and Wine was nominated, once again, in the national Outstanding Restaurant category, alongside Alinea in Chicago, Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix, and Momofuku in New York City, among others. The Frasca team has won a Beard Award for Best Wine Program in 2013 and chef Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson was named Best Chef Southwest by the Foundation in 2008.

Chef Jennifer Jasinski (Rioja, Stoic & Genuine, Euclid Hall, Bistro Vendome) was recognized among the semi-finalists for outstanding chef. Jasinski was awarded the title of Best Chef Southwest in 2013.

This year, the James Beard Foundation included chefs Steve Redzikowski (Acorn, Oak at Fourteenth, Brider), Dana Rodriguez (Work & Class), and Alex Seidel (Fruition, Mercantile Dining & Provision) in the Best Chef Southwest category.

Restaurateur Frank Bonanno whose empire includes Mizuna, Luca, Bones, Lou's Food Bar, and Osteria Marco is, once again, a semi-finalist in the national Outstanding Restaurateur category. Element 47 at The Little Nell has once again made the prestigious list for "Outstanding Wine Program."

On March 17, the James Beard Foundation will announce five finalists for the awards in each category. The 2016 James Beard Awards Gala will be held at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on Monday, May 2.