Jan 26, 2023 - Business

13 Colorado chefs and restaurants score 2023 James Beard nominations

Thirteen Colorado chefs and restaurants were named Wednesday among the nation's best as semifinalists for a James Beard award.

Why it matters: Taking home a James Beard award, which is like an Oscar in the food industry, can put a restaurant on the map.

Details: Here are the local semifinalists:

Outstanding restaurateur: Kelly Whitaker, with Id Est Hospitality Group (Basta, The Wolf's Tailor, and BRUTØ)
Outstanding chef: Josh Niernberg, Bin 707 Foodbar in Grand Junction and Dana Rodriguez, Super Mega Bien in Denver
Emerging chef: Bo Porytko, Misfit SnackBar in Denver
Best new restaurant: The Friar's Fork in Alamosa
Outstanding pastry chef or baker: Ismael de Sousa, Reunion Bread in Denver
Outstanding hospitality: Pêche in Palisade
Outstanding beverage program: Sunday Vinyl in Denver
Best chef — Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT): Jose Avila, La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal in Denver; Michael Diaz de Leon, BRUTØ in Denver; C. Barclay Dodge, Bosq in Aspen; Cindhura Reddy, Spuntino in Denver; Penelope Wong, Yuan Wonton in Denver

Between the lines: For many, this is not the first year they received nominations.

What's next: The award winners will be announced June 5.

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