2014 James Beard Semifinalists for Best Chef in the West and Best New Restaurant: Chef Ludo Lefebvre at Trois Mec.
This morning James Beard announced its 2014 James Beard semifinalists! And like every Angeleno, you know I scanned it to see who from Los Angeles made the cut. Not many surprises here with Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne popping up again. But it’s always nice to see them on there. Spago is on it as the only L.A. entry for Outstanding Wine Program. (Here’s hoping they can still maintain its award-winning program even after the departure of beverage director Christopher Miller.) And Rivera and The Varnish are representing our city for Outstanding Bar Program; wished AOC/Tavern would have been on there, too.
Congrats to all and good luck! Here’s the list of the L.A. 2014 James Beard semifinalists to add to your list of must-dos if you haven’t already checked these places and people out. Better get on it before that inevitable mad surge.
Best New Restaurant
Chi Spacca, Los Angeles
Connie and Ted’s, West Hollywood, CA
Trois Mec, Los Angeles
Outstanding Bar Program
Rivera, Los Angeles
The Varnish, Los Angeles
Outstanding Chef
Suzanne Goin, Lucques, West Hollywood, CA
Nancy Silverton, Pizzeria Mozza, Los Angeles
Outstanding Pastry Chef
Dahlia Narvaez, Osteria Mozza, Los Angeles
Outstanding Restaurant
Mélisse, Santa Monica, CA
Outstanding Restaurateur
Caroline Styne, West Hollywood, CA (Lucques, A.O.C., Tavern, and others)
Outstanding Service
Lucques, West Hollywood, CA
Providence, Los Angeles
Outstanding Wine Program
Spago, Beverly Hills, CA
Rising Star Chef of the Year
Casey Lane, Tasting Kitchen, Venice, CA
Eduardo Ruiz, Corazón y Miel, Bell, CA
Ari Taymor, Alma, Los Angeles
Best Chef: West
Josef Centeno, Bäco Mercat, Los Angeles
Michael Cimarusti, Providence, Los Angeles
Ludo Lefebvre, Trois Mec, Los Angeles
David LeFevre, MB Post, Manhattan Beach, CA
Niki Nakayama, n/naka, Los Angeles
John Rivera Sedlar, Rivera, Los Angeles
Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo, Animal, Los Angeles
Ricardo Zarate, Picca, Los Angeles