Drum roll, please….. The James Beard Foundation published the list of the 2020 Restaurant and Chef Award semifinalists and here’s the list for Arizona. Many new categories, many new faces, and many familiar ones too.
Best New Restaurant
Outstanding Baker
Don Guerra, Barrio Bread, Tucson, AZ
Outstanding Bar Program
Outstanding Chef (Presented by All-Clad Metalcrafters)
Nobuo Fukuda, Nobuo at Teeter House, Phoenix
Outstanding Hospitality (Presented by American Airlines)
Outstanding Pastry Chef (Presented by Lavazza)
Country Velador, Super Chunk Sweets & Treats, Scottsdale, AZ
Outstanding Restaurant (Presented by S.Pellegrino® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water)
Outstanding Restaurateur (Presented by Magellan Corporation)
Mike Mastro and Jeff Mastro, Prime Steak Concepts, Scottsdale, AZ (Dominick’s Steakhouse, Steak 44, Ocean 44)
Outstanding Wine Program
Outstanding Wine, Spirits, or Beer Producer
Stephen Paul, Hamilton Distillers, Tucson, AZ
Rising Star Chef of the Year (Presented by S.Pellegrino® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water)
Cassie Shortino, Tratto, Phoenix
Best Chefs (Presented by Capital One)
Stephen Jones, The Larder + The Delta, Phoenix
Bernie Kantak, Citizen Public House, Scottsdale, AZ
Shinji Kurita, Shinbay Omakase Room, Scottsdale, AZ
Danielle Leoni, The Breadfruit & Rum Bar, Phoenix
Maria Mazon, BOCA Tacos y Tequila, Tucson, AZ
Chrysa Robertson, Rancho Pinot, Scottsdale, AZ
Silvana Salcido Esparza, Barrio Café Gran Reserva, Phoenix
Samantha Sanz, Talavera, Scottsdale, AZ
Jeff Smedstad, Elote Cafe, Sedona, AZ
Ryan Swanson, Kai, Gila River Indian Community, Chandler, AZ
The 2020 James Beard Awards Gala will take place on Monday, May 4, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
The 2020 Leadership Awards will be held on Sunday, May 3 in Chicago, and the 2020 Media Awards will take place on Friday, April 24, at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York City.
For more information and tickets, jamesbeard.org/awards.
