The James Beard Award 2016 Semifinalists Are Atlanta-Heavy

The James Beard Foundation has announced semifinalists for its 2016 Restaurant and Chef Awards, which honor the cream of the crop in America's dining industry. This year includes several previous semifinalists from Atlanta, to go along with a few new names. See the local honorees below, and take a look at the complete list via the Foundation's official release.

Best New Restaurant

A restaurant opened in the calendar year before the award will be given that already displays excellence in food, beverage, and service, and that is likely to make a significant impact in years to come.

• Staplehouse

Outstanding Baker

A chef or baker who prepares breads, pastries or desserts in a retail bakery, and who serves as a national standard-bearer of excellence. Must have been a baker or pastry chef for at least five years.

• Rob Alexander, The General Muir
• Sarah O'Brien, The Little Tart Bakeshop

Outstanding Bar Program

A restaurant or bar that demonstrates excellence in cocktail, spirits and/or beer service.

• Kimball House

Outstanding Pastry Chef

A chef or baker who prepares desserts, pastries or breads in a restaurant, and who serves as a national standard bearer of excellence. Must have been a pastry chef or baker for the past five years.

• Kimiko Nishimura, Tomo

Outstanding Restaurant

A restaurant in the United States that serves as a national standard bearer of consistent quality and excellence in food, atmosphere and service. Eligible restaurants must have been in operation 10 or more consecutive years.

• Five & Ten (Athens)

Outstanding Restaurateur

A working restaurateur who sets high national standards in restaurant operations and entrepreneurship. Candidates must have been in the restaurant business for at least 10 years. Candidates must not have won a James Beard Foundation chef award in the past five years.

• Ford Fry

Outstanding Service

A restaurant in operation five or more years that demonstrates high standards of hospitality and service.

• Bacchanalia

Outstanding Wine Program

A restaurant in operation five or more years that serves as a standard bearer for excellence in wine service through a well-presented wine list, knowledgeable staff, and efforts to educate customers about wine.

• Empire State South
• Miller Union

Rising Star of the Year

A chef age 30 or younger who displays an impressive talent and who is likely to make a significant impact on the industry in years to come.

• Jarrett Stieber, Eat Me Speak Me

Best Chef: Southeast

Chefs who have set new or consistent standards of excellence in their respective regions. Eligible candidates may be from any kind of dining establishment and must have been working as a chef for at least five years with the three most recent years spent in the region.

• Billy Allin, Cakes & Ale
• Kevin Gillespie, Gunshow
• Steven Satterfield, Miller Union
• Ryan Smith, Staplehouse

This list will be whittled down to final nominees on Tuesday, March 15. Winners will be announced at the 2016 James Beard Awards Gala, to be held at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on Monday, May 2.