Awards Watch: The 2012 Restaurant and Chef Awards Semifinalists

They're here! Our semifinalists for the 2012 JBF Restaurant and Chefs Awards are below. You can download a PDF of the list here. Be sure to swing by our Twitter page on March 19: we'll be announcing the narrowed down list of Restaurant and Chef Award nominees, as well as the nominees for our Book; Journalism; Restaurant Graphics and Design; and Broadcast and New Media Awards. 

Best New Restaurant 

Altura, Seattle

AQ, San Francisco

The Bachelor Farmer, Minneapolis

Bistronomic, Chicago

The Catbird Seat, Nashville, TN

The Dorrance, Providence, RI

The Farm and Fisherman, Philadelphia

Fiola, Washington, D.C.

Harvest, Louisville, KY

Isa, NYC

Little Serow, Washington, D.C.

The Macintosh, Charleston, SC

MB Post, Manhattan Beach, CA

Next, Chicago

Ollie Irene, Mountain Brook, AL

Park Tavern, San Francisco

Petite Jacqueline, Portland, ME

Picca, Los Angeles

Pistou, Burlington, VT

Pondicheri, Houston

Restaurant 1833, Monterey, CA

Salt, St. Louis

ShinBay, Scottsdale, AZ

Tashan, Philadelphia

Tertulia, NYC

Trade, Boston

Tremont, NYC

Yardbird Southern Table & Bar, Miami Beach, FL 

Zeppoli, Collingswood, NJ

Outstanding Bar Program

Anvil Bar & Refuge, Houston

Arnaud's French 75 Bar, New Orleans

The Aviary, Chicago

Bar Agricole, San Francisco

Beretta, San Francisco

Clyde Common, Portland, OR

The Columbia Room, Washington, D.C.

Cook & Brown Public House, Providence, RI

Cure, New Orleans

Drink, Boston

The Esquire Tavern, San Antonio, TX

The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co., Philadelphia

High West Distillery & Saloon, Park City, UT 

Holeman & Finch Public House, Atlanta

La Belle Vie, Minneapolis

The Old Fashioned, Madison, WI

PDT, NYC

Pegu Club, NYC

The Porter Beer Bar, Atlanta

PX, Alexandria, VA

Rivera, Los Angeles

Standard Tap, Philadelphia

The Violet Hour, Chicago

The Zig Zag Café, Seattle

Outstanding Chef

Jody Adams, Rialto, Cambridge, MA

Sean Brock, McCrady's, Charleston, SC

David Chang, Momofuku Ssäm Bar, NYC

Gary Danko, Restaurant Gary Danko, San Francisco

Suzanne Goin, Lucques, Los Angeles

Daniel Humm, Eleven Madison Park, NYC

Paul Kahan, Blackbird, Chicago

Melissa Kelly, Primo, Rockland, ME

David Kinch, Manresa, Los Gatos, CA

Donald Link, Herbsaint, New Orleans

Tony Mantuano, Spiaggia, Chicago

Tim McKee, La Belle Vie, Minneapolis 

Carrie Nahabedian, Naha, Chicago

Vitaly Paley, Paley's Place, Portland, OR

Charles Phan, The Slanted Door, San Francisco

Stephan Pyles, Stephan Pyles, Dallas 

Frank Ruta, Palena, Washington, D.C.

Nancy Silverton, Pizzeria Mozza, Los Angeles 

Holly Smith, Cafe Juanita, Kirkland, WA

Janos Wilder, Janos, Tucson, AZ

Outstanding Pastry Chef

Julieta V. Adauto, Orange Peel Pastries, Cakes & More, El Paso, TX 

Joanne Chang, Flour Bakery + Cafe, Boston

Melissa Chou, Aziza, San Francisco

Patrick Fahy, Café des Architectes, Chicago

Ken Forkish, Ken's Artisan Bakery, Portland, OR

Michelle Gayer, Salty Tart Bakery, Minneapolis

Hedy Goldsmith, Michael's Genuine Food & Drink, Miami 

Maura Kilpatrick, Sofra Bakery and Cafe, Cambridge, MA

Yasmin Lozada-Hissom, Olivea, Denver

Lisa Lu, Jardinière, San Francisco

Tiffany MacIsaac, Birch & Barley, Washington, D.C. 

Cheryl Maffai and Jonathan Stevens, Hungry Ghost Bread, Northampton, MA

Dahlia Narvaez, Osteria Mozza, Los Angeles

Ghaya Oliveira, Boulud Sud, NYC

Jessie Prawlucki, Fond / Belle Cakery, Philadelphia

Aaron Russell, Restaurant Eugene, Atlanta

Mindy Segal, Mindy's HotChocolate, Chicago

Philip Speer, Uchi, Austin, TX

Bob Truitt, Ai Fiori, NYC 

Cynthia Wong, Empire State South, Atlanta

Outstanding Restaurant

August, New Orleans

Balthazar, NYC

Blue Hill, NYC

Boulevard, San Francisco

Canlis, Seattle

Charleston, Baltimore

Fore Street, Portland, ME

Foreign Cinema, San Francisco

Highlands Bar and Grill, Birmingham, AL

The Kitchen Restaurant, Sacramento, CA

Magnolia Grill, Durham, NC

Marcel's, Washington, D.C.

Oleana, Cambridge, MA

Patina, Los Angeles

Picasso at Bellagio, Las Vegas

Restaurant Alma, Minneapolis

Terra, St. Helena, CA

Tru, Chicago

Vetri, Philadelphia

Vincent on Camelback, Phoenix

Outstanding Restaurateur

Edward Aloise and Claudia Rippee, E&C Restaurant Management Corporation, Manchester, NH 

Nick Badovinus, Flavor Hook, Dallas

Ashok Bajaj, Knightsbridge Restaurant Group, Washington, D.C.

Tom Baron and Bill Fuller, big Burrito Restaurant Group, Pittsburgh

Roger Berkowitz, Legal Sea Foods, Boston

Frank Bonanno, Bonanno Concepts, Denver 

Bruce Bromberg and Eric Bromberg, Blue Ribbon Restaurants, NYC 

Richard D'Amico and Larry D'Amico, D'Amico & Partners, Minneapolis

Jason Dady, Jason Dady Restaurants, San Antonio, TX 

Tom Douglas, Tom Douglas Restaurants, Seattle

Sam Fox, Fox Restaurant Concepts, Scottsdale, AZ 

Richard Gonzmart, Columbia Restaurant, Tampa, FL 

Mike Klank and Eddie Hernandez, Taqueria del Sol, Atlanta

Donnie Madia, One Off Hospitality, Chicago

Nick Pihakis, Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q, Birmingham, AL 

Piero Selvaggio, Valentino Restaurant Group, Santa Monica, CA 

Stephen Starr, Starr Restaurants, Philadelphia 

Caroline Styne, Lucques/A.O.C./Tavern, Los Angeles 

Phil Suarez, Suarez Restaurant Group, NYC 

Doug Washington, Mitchell Rosenthal, and Steven Rosenthal, Stock & Bones, San Francisco

Outstanding Service

Brigtsen's, New Orleans

Café Boulud at the Brazilian Court Hotel, Palm Beach, FL

Clancy's, New Orleans

The Compound, Santa Fe, NM

Cyrus, Healdsburg, CA

Fountain Restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia, Philadelphia

The French Room at the Adolphus Hotel, Dallas

Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas

L'Espalier, Boston

La Grenouille, NYC

Manny's Steakhouse, Minneapolis

Michael Mina, San Francisco

Nopa, San Francisco

The Oakroom at the Seelbach Hilton, Louisville, KY

Picholine, NYC

Providence, Los Angeles

Restaurant Eve, Alexandria, VA

Spiaggia, Chicago

Topolobampo, Chicago

Vetri, Philadelphia

Outstanding Wine Program

A16, San Francisco

The Barn at Blackberry Farm, Walland, TN

Café on the Green at Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas, Irving, TX

Canlis, Seattle

Charleston, Baltimore

CityZen at Mandarin Oriental, Washington, D.C.

CUT at Beverly Wilshire, Beverly Hills, CA

Emeril's New Orleans

Five and Ten, Athens, GA

Frasca Food and Wine, Boulder, CO

Hatfield's, Los Angeles

No. 9 Park, Boston

Patina, Los Angeles

Perbacco, San Francisco

Picasso at Bellagio, Las Vegas

Restaurant Eve, Alexandria, VA

Sepia, Chicago

Tria, Philadelphia

Troquet, Boston

Wild Rice Restaurant, Bayfield, WI

Outstanding Wine & Spirits Professional

Sam Calagione, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, DE

Ron Cooper, Del Maguey, Single Village Mezcal, Ranchos de Taos, NM

Merry Edwards, Merry Edwards Winery, Sebastopol, CA

Greg Engert, Neighborhood Restaurant Group, Alexandria, VA

Alex Golitzin, Quilceda Creek Vintners, Snohomish, WA

Paul Grieco, Terroir, NYC

Ken Grossman, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, CA 

Lance Hanson, Peak Spirits, Hotchkiss, CO

David Hirsch, Hirsch Vineyards, Cazadero, CA

Manfred Krankl, Sine Qua Non, Ventura, CA

Jim Koch, The Boston Beer Company, Boston

Steve McCarthy, Clear Creek Distillery, Portland, OR

Garrett Oliver, Brooklyn Brewery, NYC

Jorge Ordoñez, Fine Estates from Spain, Dedham, MA

Virginia Philip, Virginia Philip Wine Shop & Academy, West Palm Beach, FL

Neal Rosenthal, Mad Rose Group, Pine Plains, NY

Jörg Rupf, St. George Spirits, Alameda, CA

Abe Schoener, The Scholium Project, Napa, CA

Eric Solomon, Eric Solomon Selections - European Cellars, Charlotte, NC

Sean Lilly Wilson, Fullsteam, Durham, NC

Rising Star Chef of the Year

Dave Beran, Next, Chicago

Noah Bernamoff, Mile End, NYC

Danny Bowien, Mission Chinese Food, San Francisco

Katie Button, Cúrate, Asheville, NC

Clayton Chapman, The Grey Plume, Omaha, NE 

Joe Cicala, Le Virtù, Philadelphia 

Preston Clark, El Paseo, Mill Valley, CA 

Chad Colby, Mozza2Go, Los Angeles 

Joshua Drew, Farmshop, Santa Monica, CA 

Kevin Gillespie, Woodfire Grill, Atlanta 

Bryce Gilmore, Barley Swine, Austin, TX 

Grant Gordon, Tony's, Houston

Emma Hearst, Sorella, NYC 

Matthew Kirkley, L2O, Chicago

Casey Lane, The Tasting Kitchen, Venice, CA 

Aaron London, Ubuntu, Napa, CA

Sara Lukasiewicz, Red Devon, Bangall, NY 

Thomas McNaughton, flour + water, San Francisco

JD Morton, Domaine Hudson, Wilmington, DE

David Posey, Blackbird, Chicago 

Jesse Schenker, Recette, NYC

Lee Styer, Fond, Philadelphia

Benjamin Sukle, The Dorrance, Providence, RI 

Max Sussman, Roberta's, NYC 

Christina Tosi, Momofuku Milk Bar, NYC

Jarrod Verbiak, DB Bistro Moderne at the JW Marriott Marquis Miami 

Sameh Wadi, Saffron Restaurant & Lounge, Minneapolis

Blaine Wetzel, The Willows Inn, Lummi Island, WA 

Micah Wexler, Mezze, Los Angeles

Kris Yenbamroong, Talésai, West Hollywood, CA

Sue Zemanick, Gautreau's, New Orleans

Best Chef: Great Lakes

Josh Adams, June, Peoria Heights, IL

Richard Blondin, Refectory Restaurant & Bistro, Columbus, OH

Michael Carlson, Schwa, Chicago

Jean-Robert de Cavel, Jean-Robert's Table, Cincinnati

Luciano Del Signore, Bacco Ristorante, Southfield, MI

David Gilbert, Forest Grill, Birmingham, MI

Greg Hardesty, Recess, Indianapolis

Stephanie Izard, Girl & the Goat, Chicago

Anne Kearney, Rue Dumaine, Dayton, OH

Regina Mehallick, R Bistro, Indianapolis

Matthew Millar, Reserve, Grand Rapids, MI

Martial Noguier, Bistronomic, Chicago

Chris Nugent, Goosefoot, Chicago

Kent Rigsby, Rigsby's Kitchen, Columbus

Jonathon Sawyer, The Greenhouse Tavern, Cleveland

Bruce Sherman, North Pond, Chicago

David Tallent, Restaurant Tallent, Bloomington, IN

Giuseppe Tentori, GT Fish & Oyster, Chicago

Paul Virant, Vie, Western Springs, IL

Andrew Zimmerman, Sepia, Chicago

Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic

Andrew Araneo, Drew's Bayshore Bistro, Keyport, NJ

Cathal Armstrong, Restaurant Eve, Alexandria, VA

Pierre Calmels, Bibou, Philadelphia

Jay Caputo, Espuma, Rehoboth Beach, DE

Tony Conte, The Oval Room, Washington, D.C.

Scott Drewno, The Source, Washington, D.C.

David Gilberg, Koo Zee Doo, Philadelphia

Spike Gjerde, Woodberry Kitchen, Baltimore

Michael Krikorian, Copper Canyon, Atlantic Highlands, NJ

Johnny Monis, Komi, Washington, D.C.

Peter Pastan, Obelisk, Washington, D.C.

Konstantinos Pitsillides, Kanella, Philadelphia

Maricel Presilla, Cucharamama, Hoboken, NJ

Dale Reitzer, Acacia, Richmond, VA

Chip Roman, Blackfish, Conshohocken, PA

Kevin Sousa, Salt of the Earth, Pittsburgh

Vikram Sunderam, Rasika, Washington, D.C.

Marcie Turney, Barbuzzo, Philadelphia

Bryan Voltaggio, Volt, Frederick, MD

Cindy Wolf, Charleston, Baltimore

Best Chef: Midwest

M.J. Adams, The Corn Exchange, Rapid City, SD

Justin Aprahamian, Sanford, Milwaukee

Mike Brown and James Winberg, Travail Kitchen and Amusements, Robbinsdale, MN

Steven Brown, Tilia, Minneapolis

Gerard Craft, Niche, St. Louis

Doug Flicker, Piccolo, Minneapolis

Josh Galliano, Monarch, St. Louis

Colby Garrelts, Bluestem, Kansas City, MO

Ted Habiger, Room 39, Kansas City, MO

Jan Kelly, Meritage, Milwaukee

Russell Klein, Meritage, St. Paul, MN

Paul Kulik, The Boiler Room, Omaha, NE

Stephen Logsdon, Lucca, Des Moines, IA

Tory Miller, L'Etoile, Madison, WI

Shinji Muramoto, Restaurant Muramoto, Madison, WI

Kevin Nashan, Sidney Street Cafe, St. Louis 

Lenny Russo, Heartland Restaurant & Farm Direct Market, St. Paul, MN 

Dan Van Rite, Hinterland, Milwaukee 

Kevin Willmann, Farmhaus, St. Louis 

Stewart Woodman, Heidi's, Minneapolis

Best Chef: Northeast

Jamie Bissonnette, Coppa, Boston

Jason Bond, Bondir, Cambridge, MA

Kara Brooks, Still River Café, Eastford, CT

Penelle, Megan, and Phoebe Chase and Ted LaFage, Chase's Daily, Belfast, ME

Tim Cushman, O Ya, Boston

Krista Kern Desjarlais, Bresca, Portland, ME

Jeffrey Gimmel, Swoon Kitchenbar, Hudson, NY

Gerry Hayden, The North Fork Table & Inn, Southold, NY

Brian Hill, Francine Bistro, Camden, ME

Dano Hutnik, Dano's Heuriger on Seneca, Lodi, NY

Liz Jackson, Libby's Bistro, Gorham, NH

Matt and Kate Jennings, La Laiterie, Providence, RI

Serge Madikians, Serevan, Amenia, NY

Demos Regas, Emilitsa, Portland, ME

Bjorn Somlo, Nudel, Lenox, MA

Champe Speidel, Persimmon, Bristol, RI

Danai Sriprasert and Nattasak Wongsaichua, Boda, Portland, ME

Bill Taibe, LeFarm, Westport, CT

Sai Viswanath, DeWolf Tavern, Bristol, RI

Eric Warnstedt, Hen of the Wood, Waterbury, VT

Best Chef: Northwest

Chris Ainsworth, Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen, Walla Walla, WA

Aaron Barnett, Restaurant St. Jack, Portland, OR

Matthew Bennett, Sybaris, Albany, OR

Matt Costello, The Inn at Langley, Langley, WA

Matt Dillon, Sitka & Spruce, Seattle

Jeff Drew, Snake River Grill, Jackson Hole, WY

Renee Erickson, Boat Street Cafe, Seattle

Jason Franey, Canlis, Seattle

John Gorham, Toro Bravo, Portland, OR

James Honaker, Bistro Enzo, Billings, MT

Christopher Israel, Grüner, Portland, OR

Jeff Keys, Vintage Restaurant, Ketchum, ID

Brendan Mahaney, Belly, Eugene, OR

Naomi Pomeroy, Beast, Portland, OR

Adam Sappington, The Country Cat Dinner House & Bar, Portland, OR

Ethan Stowell, Staple & Fancy Mercantile, Seattle

Jason Stratton, Spinasse, Seattle

Cathy Whims, Nostrana, Portland, OR

Justin Wills, Restaurant Beck, Depoe Bay, OR

Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi, Joule, Seattle

Best Chef: NYC

Michael Anthony, Gramercy Tavern

April Bloomfield, The Spotted Pig

Marco Canora, Hearth

Scott Conant, Scarpetta

Wylie Dufresne, wd~50

John Fraser, Dovetail

Kurt Gutenbrunner, Wallsé

Dan Kluger, ABC Kitchen

Mark Ladner, Del Posto

Paul Liebrandt, Corton

Anita Lo, Annisa 

George Mendes, Aldea

César Ramirez, Brooklyn Fare

Sean Rembold, Diner

Masa Takayama, Masa 

Bill Telepan, Telepan

Rich Torrisi and Mario Carbone, Torrisi Italian Specialties

Jonathan Waxman, Barbuto

Michael White, Marea

Galen Zamarra, Mas (farmhouse)

Best Chef: Pacific

Matthew Accarrino, SPQR, San Francisco

William Bradley, Addison at the Grand Del Mar, San Diego

Josef Centeno, The Lazy Ox Canteen, Los Angeles

Michael Chiarello, Bottega, Yountville, CA

Michael Cimarusti, Providence, Los Angeles

Chris Cosentino, Incanto, San Francisco

David Féau, The Royce at the Langham Huntington, Pasadena, CA

Beverly Gannon, Hali'imaile General Store, Makawao, HI

Loretta Keller, COCO500, San Francisco

Christopher Kostow, The Restaurant at Meadowood, St. Helena, CA

Mourad Lahlou, Aziza, San Francisco

Corey Lee, Benu, San Francisco

David LeFevre, MB Post, Manhattan Beach, CA

Jim Moffat, Bar Acuda, Hanalei, HI

Matt Molina, Osteria Mozza, Los Angeles

Daniel Patterson, Coi, San Francisco

Richard Reddington, Redd, Yountville, CA

John Rivera Sedlar, Rivera, Los Angeles

Paul Shoemaker, Savory, Malibu, CA

Hiroyuki Urasawa, Urasawa, Beverly Hills, CA

Best Chef: South

Greg Baker, The Refinery, Tampa, FL

Vishwesh Bhatt, Snackbar, Oxford, MS

Clay Conley, Būccan, Palm Beach, FL 

Paula DaSilva, 1500º at Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach, Miami Beach, FL 

Justin Devillier, La Petite Grocery, New Orleans

Justin Girouard, The French Press, Lafayette, LA

John Harris, Lilette, New Orleans

Chris Hastings, Hot and Hot Fish Club, Birmingham, AL 

Scott Hunnel, Victoria & Albert's at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Lake Buena Vista, FL

Chad Johnson, SideBerns, Tampa, FL 

James Lewis, Bettola, Birmingham, AL

Jeff McInnis, Yardbird Southern Table & Bar, Miami Beach, FL

Tory McPhail, Commander's Palace, New Orleans

Jose Mendin, Pubbelly, Miami Beach, FL 

James and Julie Petrakis, The Ravenous Pig, Winter Park, FL

Lee Richardson, Ashley's at the Capital Hotel, Little Rock, AR

Jeanie Roland, The Perfect Caper, Punta Gorda, FL

Henry Salgado, Spanish River Grill, New Smyrna Beach, FL

Alon Shaya, Domenica, New Orleans

Wesley True, True, Mobile, AL

Best Chef: Southeast

Hugh Acheson, Five and Ten, Athens, GA

Billy Allin, Cakes & Ale, Decatur, GA

Jeremiah Bacon, The Macintosh, Charleston, SC

Tyler Brown, Capitol Grille at the Hermitage Hotel, Nashville, TN

Ashley Christensen, Poole's, Raleigh, NC

Craig Deihl, Cypress, Charleston, SC

John Fleer, Canyon Kitchen at Lonesome Valley, Cashiers, NC

Damian Heath, Lot 12 Public House, Berkeley Springs, WV

Linton Hopkins, Restaurant Eugene, Atlanta

Vivian Howard, Chef & the Farmer, Kinston, NC

Scott Howell, Nana's, Durham, NC

Anthony Lamas, Seviche, Louisville, KY

Edward Lee, 610 Magnolia, Louisville, KY

Joseph Lenn, The Barn at Blackberry Farm, Walland, TN 

Daniel Lindley, St. John's Restaurant, Chattanooga, TN 

Ouita Michel, Holly Hill Inn, Midway, KY

Andrew Ticer and Michael Hudman, Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen, Memphis, TN

Aaron Vandemark, Panciuto, Hillsborough, NC

Ken Vedrinski, Trattoria Lucca, Charleston, SC

Tandy Wilson, City House, Nashville, TN

Best Chef: Southwest

Bruce Auden, Biga on the Banks, San Antonio

Kevin Binkley, Binkley's Restaurant, Cave Creek, AZ

Bowman Brown and Viet Pham, Forage, Salt Lake City, UT

Bruno Davaillon, Mansion Restaurant at Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, Dallas

Mitsuo Endo, Aburiya Raku, Las Vegas

Silvana Salcido Esparza, Barrio Café, Phoenix

Mark Fischer, Six89, Carbondale, CO

Manabu Horiuchi, Kata Robata, Houston

Anita Jaisinghani, Indika, Houston

Jennifer James, Jennifer James 101, Albuquerque, NM

Jennifer Jasinski, Rioja, Denver

Maiya Keck, Maiya's, Marfa, TX

Frederick Muller, El Meze, Taos, NM

John Murcko, Talisker on Main, Park City, UT

Hugo Ortega, Hugo's, Houston

Paul Qui, Uchi, Austin, TX

Martín Rios, Restaurant Martín, Santa Fe

Teiichi Sakurai, Tei-An, Dallas

Alex Seidel, Fruition Restaurant, Denver

John Sharpe, The Turquoise Room at La Posada Hotel & Gardens, Winslow, AZ