The James Beard Foundation announced
Monday the finalists for its 2020 awards, celebrating outstanding performances in
the restaurant world in 2019. The foundation is a New York-based nonprofit
dedicated to promoting the culinary arts nationwide.
COVID-19 has created pressure on
the restaurant community. Many businesses have struggled under the economic
strain caused by the quarantine. In solidarity with these restaurants, the
foundation says that it has donated more than $4 million to relieve
independent, locally owned companies.
This year would have marked the 30th
anniversary of the foundation's staging of a formal awards ceremony in Chicago.
However, because of social distancing, a physical ceremony will not take place.
In lieu of one, the announcement of the award winners will be livestreamed on Twitter instead. The foundation
went ahead and shared its nominations for exemplary individual chefs and
restaurants. Ten New Orleans names made it on the shortlist (including a
virtual sweep of the Best Southern Chef category). The New Orleans-based
nominees are:
Best Chef: South (AL, AR, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, FL, LA, MS)
Kristen Essig and Michael Stoltzfus, Coquette
Michael Gulotta, Maypop
Mason Hereford, Turkey and the Wolf
Isaac Toups, Toups' Meatery
Best New Restaurant
Gianna
Outstanding Baker
Graison Gill, Bellegarde Bakery
Outstanding Chef
Donald Link, Herbsaint
Outstanding
Hospitality
Brigsten's
Outstanding Restaurateur
JoAnn Clevenger, Upperline Restaurant
Outstanding Wine
Program
Bacchanal
Final awards decisions will take place on September 25,
2020. The James Beard Foundation's Twitter account will also handle those
announcements.
