Mexican and Latin restaurants are well-represented in the list of semifinalists for the 2016 James Beard Foundation Awards. Final nominees will be announced on Tuesday, March 15, and the 2016 James Beard Awards Gala will take place at Lyric Opera of Chicago on Monday, May 2.
el Restaurante congratulates the following restaurant and chef semifinalists, who were selected from a list of more than 20,000 online entries.
Best New Restaurant:
Bracero Cocina de Raíz, San Diego (http://bracerococina.com/)
Cala, San Francisco (www.calarestaurant.com)
Eloisa, Santa Fe (http://eloisasantafe.com/)
Morcilla, Pittsburgh (www.morcillapittsburgh.com)
Público, University City, MO (http://www.publicostl.com/)
Outstanding Restaurant:
Jaleo, Washington, D.C. (http://www.jaleo.com/)
Outstanding Restaurateur:
Tracy Vaught, Houston, Hugo’s (hugosrestaurant.net) and Caracol (http://caracol.net/)
Outstanding Service:
Topolobampo, Chicago (http://www.rickbayless.com/restaurants/topolobampo/)
Outstanding Wine, Spirits, or Beer Professional:
Ron Cooper, Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal, Ranchos de Taos, NM (delmaguey.com)
Best Chef—Mid-Atlantic:
Victor Albisu, Del Campo, Washington, D.C. (delcampodc.com)
Mike Randolph, Público, University City, MO ((http://www.publicostl.com/)
Best Chef—New York City:
George Mendes, Aldea (www.aldearestaurant.com)
Alex Raij and Eder Montero, Txikito (www.txikitonyc.com)
Alex Stupak, Empellón Cocina (www.empellon.com)
Best Chef—Northwest:
Jose Chesa, Ataula, Portland, OR (ataulapdx.com)
Mike Muirhead, Mas Taco, Red Lodge, MT (https://www.facebook.com/MasTaco)
Best Chef—South:
Jose Enrique, Jose Enrique, San Juan, PR (http://joseenriquepr.com/)
Best Chef—Southeast:
Matthew Kelly, Mateo, Durham, NC (mateotapas.com)
Best Chef—Southwest:
Omar Flores, Casa Rubia, Dallas (http://casarubiadfw.com/)
Hugo Ortega, Caracol, Houston ((http://caracol.net/)
Best Chef—West:
Carlos Salgado, Taco Maria, Costa Mesa, CA (ttp://www.tacomaria.com/)
See this year’s full semifinalist list at jamesbeard.org/awards.