Normal Ice Cream, Post Office Place named James Beard semifinalists

Eleven Utah restaurants and chefs were named Wednesday as 2023 James Beard Awards semifinalists.

Why it matters: Each year, the James Beard Foundation celebrates the top restaurants and chefs across the U.S. The honor could hype a chef's career or coax more foodies to an eatery.

Most of this year's Utah chefs and restaurants are based in Salt Lake City:

• Outstanding bakery: Normal Ice Cream (SLC)
• Outstanding bar: Post Office Place (SLC)
• Outstanding hospitality: Manoli's (SLC)
• Outstanding restaurant: Hell’s Backbone Grill & Farm (Boulder)

Outstanding chef — Mountain region (Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah):

• Ali Sabbah, Mazza (SLC)
• Briar Handly, Handle (Park City)
• Paul Chamberlain and Logen Crew, SLC Eatery (SLC)
• Andrew Fuller, Oquirrh (SLC)
• Young-Ho Kang and Peter Kim, The Angry Korean (South Jordan)

What they're saying: "What these restaurants just have in common is that the owners are there working every single day," Michele Corigliano, executive director of the Salt Lake Area Restaurant Association, told Axios. "They work so hard, and it really sets them apart."

• Dee Brewer, executive director of the Downtown Alliance, said the city's fine dining scene is growing along with its increasing population.

• "Salt Lake City punches above its weight in food and beverage," he said. "People are constantly surprised and delighted by what they find here."

Zoom out: Despite the recognition, local restaurants are grappling with labor shortages, higher costs of goods and scarcity of products, Melva Stine, president and CEO of the Utah Restaurant Association, told Axios.

What's next: Winners will be announced June 5.