The James Beard Foundation has announced the finalists for its 2022 awards. It is the return of the awards after the cancellation of the 2021 edition, and marks a new era for the American foundation.
In addition to the announcement of the shortlist of finalists, the foundation also announced that chef and TV host Martin Yan was the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Humanitarian of the Year Award went to Grace Young for her work supporting Chinatowns and Asian American-owned small businesses. There were four Leadership Award winners — Monica Ramirez of Justice for Migrant Women; Irene Li of Mei Mei Dumplings and Prepshift; Erika Allen of Urban Growers Collective; and Mavis-Jay Sanders of Drive Change. The worker-led, Oakland-based restaurant Understory was recognised with the Emerging Leadership award. They join the America’s Classics winners 2022, which were announced in last month.
The finalists in the Media categories, like cookbook and journalism, will be revealed separately on 27 April, and the Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony will take place in Chicago on 13 June.
Outstanding Restaurateur
- Ashok Bajaj, Knightsbridge Restaurant Group (Rasika, Bindaas, Annabelle, and others), Washington, D.C.
- Chris Bianco, Tratto, Pane Bianco, and Pizzeria Bianco, Phoenix
- Kevin Gillespie, Red Beard Restaurants (Gunshow, Ole Reliable, and Revival), Atlanta
- Akkapong “Earl” Ninsom, Langbaan, Hat Yai, Eem, and others, Portland, OR
- Chris Williams, Lucille’s Hospitality Group, Houston
- Ellen Yin, High Street Hospitality Group (Fork, a.kitchen + bar, High Street Philly, and others), Philadelphia
Outstanding Chef
- Reem Assil, Reem’s, Oakland and San Francisco, CA
- Mashama Bailey, The Grey, Savannah, GA
- Peter Chang, Peter Chang, VA and MD
- Jason Vincent, Giant, Chicago
- Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi, Joule, Seattle
Outstanding Restaurant
- Brennan’s, New Orleans
- Butcher & Bee, Charleston, SC
- Chai Pani, Asheville, NC
- Parachute, Chicago
- The Walrus and the Carpenter, Seattle
Emerging Chef
- Angel Barreto, Anju, Washington, D.C.
- Calvin Eng, Bonnie’s, NYC
- Cleophus Hethington, Benne on Eagle, Asheville, NC
- Serigne Mbaye, Dakar Nola, New Orleans
- Edgar Rico, Nixta Taqueria, Austin
- Crystal Wahpepah, Wahpepah’s Kitchen, Oakland, CA
Best New Restaurant
- Angry Egret Dinette, Los Angeles
- Bacanora, Phoenix
- BARDA, Detroit
- Dhamaka, NYC
- Horn BBQ, Oakland, CA
- Kasama, Chicago
- Leeward, Portland, ME
- Owamni, Minneapolis
- Oyster Oyster, Washington, D.C.
- Roots Southern Table, Farmers Branch, TX
- Ursula, NYC
Outstanding Pastry Chef
- Warda Bouguettaya, Warda Pâtisserie, Detroit
- Margarita Manzke, République, Los Angeles
- Claudia Martinez, Miller Union, Atlanta
- Ruben Ortega, Xochi, Houston
- Caroline Schiff, Gage & Tollner, NYC
Outstanding Baker
- Maya-Camille Broussard, Justice of the Pies, Chicago
- Atsuko Fujimoto, Norimoto Bakery, Portland, ME
- Don Guerra, Barrio Bread, Tucson, AZ
- Caroline Schweitzer and Lauren Heemstra, Wild Crumb, Bozeman, MT
- Zak Stern, Zak the Baker, Miami
Outstanding Hospitality
- Cúrate, Asheville, NC
- House of Prime Rib, San Francisco
- Hugo’s, Houston
- Sylvia’s Restaurant, NYC
- Ticonderoga Club, Atlanta
Outstanding Wine Program
- The Four Horsemen, NYC
- Frenchette, NYC
- The Little Nell, Aspen, CO
- Maydan, Washington, D.C.
- Rebel Rebel, Somerville, MA
Outstanding Bar Program
- Alley Twenty Six, Durham, NC
- Attaboy, Nashville
- barmini by José Andrés, Washington, D.C.
- Julep, Houston
- Nobody’s Darling, Chicago
Best Chef: California
- Brandon Jew, Mister Jiu’s, San Francisco
- Bryant Ng, Cassia, Santa Monica, CA
- Sarintip “Jazz” Singsanong, Jitlada, Los Angeles
- James Syhabout, Commis, Oakland, CA
- Pim Techamuanvivit, Nari, San Francisco
Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)
- Omar Anani, Saffron De Twah, Detroit
- Jason Hammel, Lula Cafe, Chicago
- Noah Sandoval, Oriole, Chicago
- John Shields and Karen Urie Shields, Smyth, Chicago
- Erick Williams, Virtue Restaurant & Bar, Chicago
Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)
- Angel Barreto, Anju, Washington, D.C.
- Amy Brandwein, Centrolina, Washington, D.C.
- Jesse Ito, Royal Izakaya, Philadelphia
- Cristina Martinez, South Philly Barbacoa, Philadelphia
- Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon, Kalaya Thai Kitchen, Philadelphia
Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI)
- Dane Baldwin, The Diplomat, Milwaukee
- Karen Bell, Bavette La Boucherie, Milwaukee
- Jorge Guzmán, Petite León, Minneapolis
- Gregory León, Amilinda, Milwaukee
- Sean Sherman, Owamni, Minneapolis
- Yia Vang, Union Hmong Kitchen, Minneapolis
Best Chef: Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY)
- Jose Avila, El Borrego Negro, Denver
- Cody Cheetham, Tavernetta, Denver
- Caroline Glover, Annette, Aurora, CO
- Dana Rodriguez, Work & Class, Denver
- Eric Skokan, Black Cat Farm Table Bistro, Boulder, CO
Best Chef: New York State
- Amanda Cohen, Dirt Candy, NYC
- JJ Johnson, FIELDTRIP, NYC
- Ayesha Nurdjaja, Shuka, NYC
- Chintan Pandya, Dhamaka, NYC
- Junghyun Park, Atomix, NYC
Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)
- Vien Doubi, CÔNG TỬ BỘT, Portland, ME
- Tiffani Faison, Orfano, Boston
- Courtney Loreg, Woodford Food and Beverage, Portland, ME
- Nisachon Morgan, Saap, Randolph, VT
- Damian Sansonetti, Chaval, Portland, ME
Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA)
- Carlo Lamagna, Magna Kusina, Portland, OR
- Robynne Maii, Fête, Honolulu
- Thomas Pisha-Duffly, Oma’s Hideaway, Portland, OR
- Sheldon Simeon, Tin Roof, Kahului, HI
- Mutsuko Soma, Kamonegi, Seattle
Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)
- Katie Button, Cúrate, Asheville, NC
- Greg Collier, Leah & Louise, Charlotte, NC
- Philip Krajeck, Rolf and Daughters, Nashville
- Cheetie Kumar, Garland, Raleigh, NC
- Ricky Moore, SALTBOX Seafood Joint, Durham, NC
Best Chef: South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS, PR)
- Blake Aguillard and Trey Smith, Saint-Germain, New Orleans
- Adam Evans, Automatic Seafood and Oysters, Birmingham, AL
- Timothy Hontzas, Johnny’s Restaurant, Homewood, AL
- Melissa M. Martin, Mosquito Supper Club, New Orleans
- Isaac Toups, Toups’ Meatery, New Orleans
Best Chef: Southwest (AZ, NM, NV, OK)
- Fernando Olea, Sazón, Santa Fe
- Martín Rios, Restaurant Martín, Santa Fe
- Salazar Brothers, La Guelaguetza, Albuquerque, NM
- Giovanni Scorzo, Andreoli Italian Grocer, Scottsdale, AZ
- Jamie Tran, The Black Sheep, Las Vegas
Best Chef: Texas
- Tiffany Derry, Roots Southern Table, Farmers Branch, TX
- Christine Ha and Tony J. Nguyen, Xin Chào, Houston
- Quy Hoang, Blood Bros. BBQ, Bellaire, TX
- Steven McHugh, Cured, San Antonio, TX
- Iliana de la Vega, El Naranjo, Austin
