Here are Colorado's James Beard semifinalists for 2025
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The aguachile de chile fresno at Alma Fonda Fina in Denver. Photo: Esteban L. Hernandez/Axios
The James Beard Awards announced their 2025 semifinalists on Wednesday, with more than a dozen Colorado chefs, bars and restaurants in the running.
Why it matters: The Beards are as big a deal for the hospitality industry as an Oscar is in moviemaking. Winning one can catapult a chef's career or restaurant's reputation to new heights.
Zoom in: Here are the categories Colorado secured semifinalist spots:
- Outstanding restaurant: Frasca Food and Wine (Boulder)
- Outstanding chef: Josh Niernberg, Bin 707 Foodbar (Grand Junction)
- Emerging chef: Anna Nguyen and Ni Nguyen, Sắp Sửa (Denver)
- Best new restaurant: Alma Fonda Fina (Denver)
- Outstanding pastry chef or baker: Carolyn Nugent and Alen Ramos, Poulette Bakeshop (Parker)
- Outstanding wine and other beverages program: Hop Alley (Denver)
- Best new bar: Traveling Mercies (Aurora)
- Outstanding professional in cocktail service: McLain Hedges and Mary Allison Wright, Yacht Club (Denver)
- Best chef — Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY):
- Erasmo Casiano and Diego Coconati, Lucina Eatery & Bar (Denver)
- Bo Porytko, Molotov Kitschen + Cocktails (Denver)
- Paul C. Reilly, Coperta (Denver)
- Hosea Rosenberg, Blackbelly (Boulder)
- Kenneth Wan, MAKfam (Denver)
- Penelope Wong, Yuan Wonton (Denver)
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.
Flashback: Last year, Erika and Kelly Whitaker — co-founders of Id Est Hospitality Group (The Wolf's Tailor, BRUTØ, Basta and more) — won the award for outstanding restaurateur.
- Matt Vawter of Breckenridge-based Rootstalk took home the title for best chef in the mountain region.
What's next: Finalists will be announced April 2, and winners will be celebrated at a Chicago ceremony on June 16.