This morning, the James Beard Foundation announced the semifinalists for the 2025 awards season. As always, we hope to see our city proudly represented. While the list did not include nearly as many nominations as Miamians collectively hoped, here are the nods that are South Florida-related this year:

SEMIFINALISTS

Outstanding Restaurateur: A restaurateur who uses their establishment(s) as a vehicle for building community, demonstrates creativity in entrepreneurship, and integrity in restaurant operations: Simon Kim, Gracious Hospitality Management (COTE, Undercote, and COQODAQ), New York, NY

Outstanding Restaurant: A restaurant that demonstrates consistent excellence in food, atmosphere, hospitality, and operations: Ghee Indian Kitchen, Miami, FL

Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program: A restaurant that demonstrates exceptional care and skill in the pairing of wine and other beverages with food. This includes the selection, preparation, and serving of wine, cocktails, spirits, coffee, tea, beer, or any other beverage with outstanding hospitality and service that helps inform and enhance a customer’s appreciation of the beverage(s). Ethical sourcing will also be considered: Macchialina, Miami, FL

Outstanding Bar: A wine bar, beer bar, cocktail bar, coffee bar, or any other business whose primary offering is beverage and that demonstrates consistent excellence in curating a selection or in the preparation of drinks, along with outstanding atmosphere, hospitality, and operations. Café La Trova, Miami, FL

Best New Bar: A wine bar, beer bar, cocktail bar, coffee bar, or any other business whose primary offering is beverage, opened between October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024, that already demonstrates excellence in beverages, seems likely to make a significant impact in years to come, and demonstrates consistent excellence in the preparation of drinks, sourcing, service, hospitality, atmosphere, and operations: ViceVersa, Miami, FL

Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service: A service professional who curates and serves wine, beer, or other offerings such as sake, low- and non-alcoholic beverages in a restaurant or bar setting; or winery, distillery or brewery that also serves food. Candidate has set high standards; demonstrates creativity and consistency in excellence, innovation, hospitality; is making efforts to create a sustainable work culture; and has served as an exceptional example or mentor for other beverage professionals: Allegra Angelo, Vinya Table, Miami, FL

Best Chef: South Chefs who set high standards in their culinary skills and leadership abilities and who are making efforts to help create a sustainable work culture in their respective regions. Nando Chang, Itamae AO, Miami, FL

Upcoming Awards announcements:

●  Wednesday, February 26, 2025: America’s Classics Award Winners

●  Wednesday, April 2, 2025: Restaurant and Chef Award Nominees and Achievement Awards Honorees (Impact Awards, Lifetime Achievement, and Humanitarian of the Year)

●  Wednesday, May 7, 2025: Media Award Nominees

●  Saturday, June 14, 2025: Media Award Winners

●  Sunday, June 15, 2025: Impact Award Honorees

●  Monday, June 16, 2025: Restaurant and Chef Award Winners