More than a dozen Seattle chefs and restaurants were named James Beard Award semifinalists Wednesday, giving the city a shot at ending its yearslong drought in the prestigious food awards.
Why it matters: The awards are the culinary industry’s highest honor — but a Seattle chef or restaurant hasn’t won since 2020.
Zoom in: The semifinalist list includes a wave of Seattle chefs and restaurants earning their first James Beard recognition. Among them:
- Ahmed Suliman of Cafe Suliman is a semifinalist in the emerging chef category for his casual spot in Capitol Hill’s Melrose Market.
- Little Beast Ballard and The Wayland Mill near Gas Works Park are up for best new restaurant.
- Christina Wood of Temple Pastries is competing for outstanding pastry chef or baker.
The list also includes repeat semifinalists, such as Melissa Miranda of Musang and Logan Cox of Homer, both recognized again for their Beacon Hill restaurants…