These Arizona restaurants and chefs are James Beard semifinalists

Arizona's culinary scene has reason to celebrate this week.

What's happening: Twelve Arizona chefs, two restaurants and one bakery were named semifinalists for the prestigious James Beard Foundation awards.

Several new faces and a few seasoned chefs made the cut:

• Outstanding Chef: Silvana Salcido Esparza, Barrio Café | Phoenix
• Outstanding Restaurant: Proper Meats + Provisions | Flagstaff
• Emerging Chef: Christian Lowe, Shift Kitchen & Bar | Flagstaff
• Outstanding Bakery: JL Patisserie | Phoenix and Scottsdale
• Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker: Crystal Kass | Valentine, Phoenix
• Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program: Glai Baan | Phoenix

Zoom in: Nine Arizonans were named semifinalists for "Best Chef" in the southwest region, which includes New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma and Arizona.

• Rene Andrade and Roberto Centeno, Bacanora | Phoenix
• Jaren Bates and Brett Vibber, The Table at Junipine | Sedona
• Nephi Craig, Café Gozhóó | Whiteriver
• Wendy Garcia, Tumerico | Tucson
• Fernando Hernández, Testal | Phoenix
• Yotaka and Alex Martin, Lom Wong | Phoenix

Flashback: Last year, Chris Bianco, of Pizzeria Bianco and Tratto, won Outstanding Restaurateur and Don Guerra, of Barrio Bread in Tucson, won Outstanding Baker.

What's next: This year's finalists will be announced on March 29 and winners will be honored in Chicago on June 5.

Our favorites: We still need to try many of these places but can confirm that Barrio Café and Glai Baan live up to the hype.