Frasca Food and Wine and Chef Steve Redzikowski Named Finalists for James Beard Awards

The James Beard Foundation announced the finalists for its prestigious awards this morning and Colorado was represented in two categories: Outstanding Restaurant and Best Chef Southwest.

Boulder’s celebrated Frasca Food and Wine, a restaurant that already has two Beard medals under its belt for Best Chef Southwest and Outstanding Wine Service, was among six finalists in the Outstanding Restaurant category. This award is given to restaurants that have been open for more than ten years and this year other finalists include Highlands Bar and Grill in Birmingham, Momofuku Noodle Bar and The Spotted Pig in New York City, Quince in San Francisco, and Topolobampo in Chicago.

Chef Steve Redzikowski of Acorn, Oak at Fourteenth, and Brider has been named finalist in the Best Chef Southwest category. Redzikowski has been a semi-finalist in this category in the past but this is his first year in the final six that also Bryce Gilmore of Barley Swine in Austin, Steve McHugh of Cured in San Antonio, Martin Rios of Restaurant Martin in Santa Fe, Hugo Ortega of Caracol and Jianyun Ye of Mala Sichuan Bistro both in Houston.

The last Colorado chef to bring this title home was chef Jennifer Jasinski of Rioja, Stoic & Genuine, and Euclid Hall, in 2013.

Winners will be announced during a gala in Chicago on May 1.