Dining In Dc – Food and Restaurant Blog

The James Beard Foundation announced on Thursday, February 18, 2010 the list of semi-finalists for its prestigious national awards. The final five nominees in each category will be named March 22, with winners awarded May 3.

Restaurant and Institutions (RI) discusses the “Classics” honorees.

I was pleased to see that the Washington, DC area is well represented. In the running from my birth place, Washington, DC:

Outstanding Restaurateur
Ashok Bajaj, 701, Ardeo, Bardeo, Bibiana Osteria-Entoteca, The Bombay Club, The Oval Room, and Rasika, Washington, D.C.

Outstanding Chef
Jose Andres, Minibar, Washington, D.C.

Outstanding Restaurant
Vidalia, Washington, D.C.

Rising Star Chef Of The Year
Johnny Monis, Komi, Washington, D.C.

Best New Restaurant
Trummer’s on Main, Clifton, VA
Eventide, Arlington, VA
J & G Steakhouse, Washington, D.C.

Outstanding Pastry Chef
Amanda Cook, CityZen at Mandarin Oriental, Washington, D.C.

Outstanding Wine And Spirits Professional
Derek Brown, The Passenger, Washington, D.C.

Outstanding Service
Marcel’s, Washington, D.C.

Best Chef Mid-Atlantic
Cathal Armstrong, Restaurant Eve, Alexandria, VA
Tony Conte, The Oval Room, Washington, D.C.
Peter Pastan, Obelisk, Washington, D.C.

Vikram Sunderam, Rasika, Washington, D.C.

Bryan Voltaggio, Volt, Frederick, MD

Spike Gjerde, Woodberry Kitchen, Baltimore, MD
Melissa Close Hart, Palladio at Barboursville Vineyards, Barboursville, VA
Dale Reitzer, Acacia, Richmond, VA