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The list of the semifinalists for the 2020 James Beard Foundation awards was just released, and several Atlanta chefs and restaurants made the cut. The annual awards are the equivalent to the “Oscars” in the food world. The finalists are announced on Wednesday, March 25. Winners are announced on Monday, May 4 in Chicago.
Best New Restaurant
Lazy Betty — Candler Park
Rising Star Chef of the Year
Maricela Vega, 8ARM — Virginia-Highland
Best Chef Southeast
Bryan Furman of B’s Cracklin’ Barbecue — Atlanta
Jiyeon Lee and Cody Taylor, Heirloom Market BBQ — Cumberland in Cobb County
Leonard Lewis, Bones — Buckhead
Meherwan Irani, Chai Pani — Decatur, GA and Asheville, NC
Outstanding Pastry Chef
Claudia Martinez, Tiny Lou’s — Poncey-Highland
Outstanding Baker
Chris Wilkins of Root Baking Co. at Ponce City Market
Outstanding Bar Program
Kimball House — Decatur, GA
Outstanding Wine Program
Miller Union — west side Atlanta
Outstanding Restaurateur
Steve Palmer of The Indigo Road restaurant group — Donetto, O-Ku, Colletta, Oak Steakhouse, and Tiny Lou’s in Atlanta and The Macintosh, Oak Steakhouse, and Indaco in Charleston, SC
Disclosure: Some Vox Media staff members are part of the voting body for the James Beard Foundation Awards. Winners in the book/television/journalism categories will be announced at a dinner in New York on April 24.
