On Monday, Twitter went aflutter with restaurant news after the James Beard Foundation announced the 2020 finalists. Several Italian restaurants and chefs claimed a spot among America’s best culinary talents. The winners will be announced in September.
This year’s Italian restaurant finalists spanned the US and represented both seasoned chefs and upcoming stars. Award-winning alumni of Italian cuisine –chef Missy Robbins, Marc Vetri and restaurateur Paul Bartolotti–took home more nominations. Denver established itself as an Italian food hotspot for its takes on Friulano cooking, wood-fired pizza and Japanese-Italian pasta. And Gianna, in New Orleans, became a “Best New Restaurant” finalist.
This year’s unusual event was streamed via Twitter from the homes of the James Beard Foundation members and guests. CEO Clare Reichenbach began by acknowledging the “heart-wrenching” reality faced by many and praised the resilience, adaptability and generosity being shown in the face of COVID-19.
“Our hope is that the restaurant community will emerge from the crisis as a more equitable, sustainable ecosystem,” she said.
For thirty years, the James Beard Awards has set the bar for excellence in the culinary arts and hospitality in America. Given the popularity of simple pantry recipes and home-made pasta making, it comes as no surprise that eateries using fresh ingredients and beautiful artisan pasta made the spotlight.
The foundation has raised over 4 million dollars through its relief fund to be allotted to restaurants in $15,000 grants. Its ever-evolving social media campaign that began as #saverestaurants has now become #openforgood, a rallying cry for everyone to remain in business.
Here are the James Beard Foundation nominees for Italian restaurants in the US:
Best New Restaurant
Gianna, New Orleans, LA
Outstanding Chef
Lilia, Missy Robbins, New York, NY [in the cover picture]
Vetri Cucina, Marc Vetri, Philadelphia, PA
Outstanding Restaurant
Frasca Food & Wine, Denver, CO
Pizzeria Bianco, Phoenix, AZ
Outstanding Restaurateur*
Paul Bartolotta, (Ristorante Bartolotta, Harbor House, Lake Park Bistro, and others), Milwaukee, WI
Jamie Bissonnette and Ken Oringer, JK Food Group (Little Donkey, Toro, Coppa), Boston, MA
Outstanding Wine Program
Spiaggia, Chicago, IL
Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic
Amy Brandwein, Centrolina, Washington, D.C.
Best Chef: Mountain Region
Carrie Baird, Bar Dough, Denver
Kelly Whitaker, The Wolf's Tailor, Denver (Ode to Italian and Japanese)
Best Chef: Northeast
Tiffani Faison, Orfano, Boston
Best Chef: Southeast
Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman, Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen, Memphis, TN