James Beard Award 2025 semifinalists for Austin
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Six Austin chefs and restaurants are semifinalists for the 2025 James Beard Awards, per an announcement made Wednesday.
Why it matters: The Beards are like the Oscars for the American hospitality industry, and even making the semis is a big deal.
- Most importantly, it boosts business.
State of play: Austin chefs, bartenders and restaurateurs scooped up semifinalist spots in some of the most hyped categories, including:
- Outstanding Chef (Canje's Tavel Bristol-Joseph), Outstanding Bar (Techo Mezcaleria & Agave Bar) and Best New Restaurant (Lao'd Bar).
- Takéhiro Asazu and Masazumi Saio of Uroko and Evan LeRoy of LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue were named semifinalists for Best Chef: Texas.
What's new: The 35th anniversary of the Chef and Restaurant Awards marks an expansion into three new categories focused on beverages: Best New Bar, Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service, and Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service.
- Birdie's co-owner Arjav Ezekiel received a semifinalist nomination in the new Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service category. The restaurant's chef and co-owner Tracy Malecheck-Ezekiel was a finalist in the best Texas chef category last year.
Between the lines: This year's Austin nominees continued to reflect the city's diverse talent. All four Austin nominees in national categories are people of color or establishments operated by people of color.
- Before 2019, virtually all had been white, with exceptions like Paul Qui and Rene Ortiz of La Condesa.
Zoom out: The Houston area racked up nominations in 13 categories.
- San Antonio snagged seven and the DFW area received eight.
What's next: Finalists will be announced on April 12, and winners will be celebrated at a Chicago ceremony on June 16.