Here’s some fun news for fans of food and drink: the James Beard Foundation has named the semifinalists for the 2022 Restaurant & Chef Awards and there’s a little love for some Massachusetts-based faves. MIDA‘s Douglass Williams is among the contenders for Outstanding Chef and first timers like Patricia Estorino at Gustazo Cuban Kitchen & Bar and John DaSilva of Chickadee are in the running for Best Chef Northeast alongside some familiar candidates like Tiffani Faison of Sweet Cheeks & Orfano and Cassie Piuma of Sarma.
The 2022 James Beard Awards will be the first in two years. The Foundation took a little hiatus to do a full audit of its policies and procedures in order to remove bias, increase transparency and accessibility, and align the Awards more closely with their mission and values.
Finalists will be announced on Wednesday, March 16th and the winners will be honored at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on Monday, June 13th. Stay tuned for updates and more info but in the meantime, read on to see some local highlights from the lengthy list of contenders (or peruse the whole long list online here).
Outstanding Restaurateur
Deborah Snow and Barbara White, Blue Heron Restaurant & Catering, Sunderland, MA
Outstanding Chef
Douglass Williams, MIDA, Boston and Newton
Outstanding Wine Program
Rebel Rebel, Somerville, MA
Best Chef: Northeast
Patricia Estorino, Gustazo Cuban Kitchen & Bar, Waltham and Cambridge, MA
Tiffani Faison, Orfano, Boston
Daniel Gursha, Ledger, Salem, MA
Tico Huynh, Yvonne’s, Boston
Jeremy Kean and Philip Kruta, Brassica Kitchen + Cafe, Boston
Cassie Piuma, Sarma, Somerville, MA
John DaSilva, Chickadee, Boston
David Schrier, Jessica Pollard and David Clegg, Daily Operation, Easthampton, MA
