Cleveland Chefs Well Represented as James Beard Foundation Semifinalists Are Announced

Cleveland foodies rejoice! The 2011 James Beard Award semi-finalists have just been announced with Cleveland well represented in the mix. Chosen from more than 22,000 nominations, some of our city's culinary hero's have made the cut.

The finalists for what is considered to be the Oscar's of the food world will be announced on March 21, 2011 at the Oregon Culinary Institute in Portland, Oregon. The results will be announced live as they happen for persons not in attendance via the James Beard Foundation Twitter page. It may be followed through @beardfoundation.

The awards will be given out on May 9, 2011 in New York City.

Earning nominations in the national categories are:

Outstanding Chef: Michael Symon, Lola Bistro

Outstanding Restaurant: Lola Bistro

Rising Star Chef: Jonathan Sawyer, The Greenhouse Tavern

Included in the Great Lakes Regional award nominations, a category where Michael Symon is a previous winner are:

Zachary Bruell, L'Albatros

Eric Williams, Momocho

If you have yet to sample the cuisine from any of these chefs I strongly suggest you do. Both Lola Bistro and The Greenhouse Tavern are located on East 4^th Street in downtown Cleveland. Eric Williams can be found consulting at Stone Mad Pub on West 65^th Street in Cleveland through the middle of March. L'Albatros is located on Bellflower in Cleveland's east side near Case Western Reserve University, The Cleveland Clinic, and The Cleveland Museum of Art.

Sources:
The James Beard Foundation