The James Beard Foundation is once again stretching their yearly awards program to get as much publicity as possible. A press release this week lists the 2016 finalists. Only three Portland authors/chefs/restaurants have been retained from the original list of 18 local semi-finalists. The winners will be announced on May 2nd.

American Cooking Book Award

• Jackie and Adam Sappington have been nominated for a James Beard Foundation award for their book, Heartlandia: Heritage Recipes from Portland’s The Country Cat.

Best Chef: Northwest (AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY)

• Greg Denton and Gabrielle Quiñónez Denton, Ox, Portland, OR
• Justin Woodward, Castagna, Portland, OR

Outstanding bar program:

• Clyde Common

Visual Storytelling

• – Eater – “One Night: Kachka” Erin DeJesus, Danielle Centoni, Jen Stevenson, Dina Avila, McGraw Wolfman

Here are the original 2016 semi-finalists:

• Best new restaurant (in the USA) – Coquine
• Outstanding baker – Kim Boyce, Bakeshop
• Outstanding Chef – Gabriel Rucker, Le Pigeon
• Outstanding Pastry Chef – Kristen Murray, Maurice
• Outstanding Restaurateur – Nate Tilden – Clyde Common, Olympia Provisions, Spirit of 77, The Richmond
• Outstanding Wine Program – Jory Restaurant at the Allison Inn & Spa, Newberg OR.
• Outstanding Wine, Spirits, or Beer Professional – Steve McCarthy, Clear Creek Distillery

Rising Star Chef of the Year nominations:

• Doug Adams – Imperial, Ryan Fox and Ali Matteis – Nomad
• Jose Chesa, Ataula, Portland, OR
• Greg Denton and Gabrielle Quiñónez Denton, Ox, Portland, OR
• Joe Kim, 5 Fusion and Sushi Bar, Bend, OR
• Trent Pierce, Roe, Portland, OR
• Sarah Pliner, Aviary, Portland, OR
• Ryan Roadhouse, Nodoguro, Portland, OR
• Allen Routt, Painted Lady, Newberg, OR
• Justin Woodward, Castagna, Portland, OR

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