Several Westside Restaurants and Chefs Named Semifinalists for James Beard Awards

The James Beard Foundation­– a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding of America’s culinary culture­– has announced the semifinalists for its 2013 Restaurant and Chef Awards, and several westside area restaurants and chefs were noted for their greatness.

Westside’s Cardamom Hill was the only Atlanta restaurant to be recognized as one of the country’s best new restaurants. 

Bacchanalia made two lists. One for its outstanding service and the other for Bacchanalia's Anne Quatrano, who is a semifinalist for the country's most outstanding chef.

Miller Union's Steven Satterfield made the cut as a semifinalist for Best Chef in the Southeast.

Other Atlanta-area restaurants and chefs JBF semifinalists include:

• The Porter Beer Bar in East Atlanta, Outstanding Bar Program
• Holeman & Finch Public House, Outstanding Bar Program
• Aaron Russell of Buckhead’s Restaurant Eugene, Outstanding Pastry Chef
• Billy Allin of Decatur’s Cakes & Ale, Best Chef in Southeast
• Todd Richards of The Shed at Glenwood, Best Chef in Southeast

Chef Ford Fry of Westside’s The Optimist and JCT. Kitchen and Decatur’s No. 246 was named an outstanding restauranteur, along with Mike Klank and Eddie Hernandez of Taqueria del Sol, with a location on Cheshire Bridge and one on Howell Mill Road.

The 2013 James Beard Foundation Award nominees will be announced on March 18, and the JBF Awards will be presented in New York City in May 3 and 6.