Here Are the 2018 James Beard Awards Semifinalists for Atlanta

The semifinalists for the 2018 James Beard Foundation awards were announced Thursday morning and several Atlanta chefs and restaurants made the cut. The annual awards are the equivalent to the Oscars in the food world. The finalists will be announced on March 14. The winners are announced on May 7 in Chicago.

Outstanding Baker

Sarah O’Brien of Little Tart Bakeshop (Grant Park and Krog Street Market)

Outstanding Bar Program

Kimball House in Decatur

Outstanding Restaurateur

Steve Palmer, The Indigo Road in Charleston, SC. Palmer owns the following Atlanta area restaurants: Oak Steakhouse and Colletta in Alpharetta and O-Ku and Donetto in Westside.

Outstanding Wine Program

Miller Union in Westside

Rising Star Chef of the Year

Brian So of Spring in Marietta
Parnass Lim Savang of Talat Market in Atlanta’s Candler Park

Best Chef Southeast

Atsushi Hayakawa of Sushi Hayakawa
Rui Liu of Masterpiece in Duluth
Meherwan Irani of Chai Pani in Asheville, NC and Decatur
Ryan Smith of Staplehouse

Other notable Georgia chefs who made the list this year include:
Chef Duane Nutter (formerly of One Flew South) for Best New Restaurant, Southern National in Mobile, Alabama

Chef Mashama Bailey of The Grey in Savannah for Best Chef Southeast

Chef Matthew Raiford of The Farmer & The Larder in Brunswick for Best Chef Southeast

Chef Hugh Acheson of Five & Ten in Athens for Outstanding Chef

Click here for the full list of semifinalists for the 2018 James Beard Foundation awards.

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