Glowing Yelp reviews, Instagram-worthy presentation and high praise from critics and food bloggers go a long way, but among chefs and restaurateurs, nothing says you’ve made it like a James Beard Award.
Here are some of the winners and honorees:
Best New Restaurant
Winner: Bâtard (New York City)
Central Provisions (Portland, Maine)
Cosme (New York City)
Parachute(Chicago)
Petit Trois (Los Angeles)
The Progress (San Francisco)
Spoon and Stable (Minneapolis)
Outstanding Bar Program
Winner: The Violet Hour (Chicago)
Arnaud’s French 75 Bar (New Orleans)
Bar Agricole (San Francisco)
Maison Premiere (Brooklyn, New York)
Trick Dog (San Francisco)
Outstanding Chef
Winner: Michael Anthony (Gramercy Tavern, New York)
Sean Brock, Husk (Charleston, South Carolina)
Suzanne Goin, Lucques (Los Angeles)
Donald Link, Herbsaint (New Orleans)
Marc Vetri, Vetri (Philadelphia)
Outstanding Pastry Chef
Winner: Christina Tosi, Momofuku (New York City)
Dana Cree, Blackbird (Chicago)
Maura Kilpatrick, Oleana (Cambridge, Massachusetts)
Dahlia Narvaez, Osteria Mozza (Los Angeles)
Ghaya Oliveira, Daniel (New York City)
Outstanding Baker
Winner: Jim Lahey, Sullivan Street Bakery, (New York City)
Joanne Chang, Flour Bakery + Cafe (Boston)
Mark Furstenberg, Bread Furst (Washington)
Belinda Leong and Michel Suas, B. Patisserie (San Francisco)
William Werner, Craftsman and Wolves (San Francisco)
Outstanding Restaurant
Winner: Blue Hill at Stone Barns (Pocantico Hills, New York)
Highlands Bar and Grill (Birmingham, Alabama)
Momofuku Noodle Bar, (New York City)
Per Se (New York City)
The Spotted Pig(New York City)
Outstanding Service
Winner: The Barn at Blackberry Farm (Walland, Tennessee)
Marea (New York City)
Quince (San Francisco)
Restaurant August (New Orleans)
Topolobampo (Chicago)
Outstanding Wine Program
Winner: A16 (San Francisco)
Bern’s Steak House (Tampa, Florida)
FIG (Charleston, South Carolina)
McCrady’s (Charleston, South Carolina)
Spago (Beverly Hills)
Outstanding Wine, Beer, or Spirits Professional
Winner: Rajat Parr, Mina Group (San Francisco)
Sam Calagione, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Milton, Delaware)
Ron Cooper, Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal (Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico)
Ted Lemon, Littorai Wines (Sebastopol, California)
Harlen Wheatley, Buffalo Trace Distillery (Frankfort, Kentucky)
Rising Star Chef of the Year
Winner: Jessica Largey, Manresa (Los Gatos, California)
Tanya Baker, Boarding House (Chicago)
Alex Bois, High Street on Market(Philadelphia)
Erik Bruner-Yang, Toki Underground (Washington)
Cara Stadler, Tao Yuan (Brunswick, Maine)
Ari Taymor, Alma (Los Angeles)
Best Chef: Great Lakes
Winner: Jonathon Sawyer, Greenhouse Tavern (Cleveland, Ohio)
Curtis Duffy, Grace (Chicago)
Paul Virant, Vie (Western Springs, Illinois)
Erling Wu-Bower, Nico Osteria (Chicago)
Andrew Zimmerman, Sepia (Chicago)
Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic
Winner: Spike Gjerde, Woodberry Kitchen (Baltimore, Maryland)
Joe Cicala, Le Virtù (Philadelphia)
Rich Landau, Vedge (Philadelphia)
Greg Vernick, Vernick Food & Drink (Philadelphia)
Cindy Wolf, Charleston (Baltimore, Maryland)
Best Chef: Midwest
Winner: Gerard Craft, Niche (Clayton, Missouri)
Paul Berglund, The Bachelor Farmer (Minneapolis)
Justin Carlisle, Ardent (Milwaukee)
Michelle Gayer, Salty Tart (Minneapolis)
Lenny Russo, Heartland Restaurant & Farm Direct Market (St. Paul, Minnesota)
Best Chef: Northeast
Winner: Barry Maiden, Hungry Mother (Cambridge, Massachusetts)
Karen Akunowicz, Myers + Chang (Boston)
Masa Miyake, Miyake (Portland, Maine)
Cassie Piuma, Sarma (Somerville, Massachusetts)
Andrew Taylor and Mike Wiley, Eventide Oyster Co. (Portland, Maine)
Best Chef: Northwest
Winner: Blaine Wetzel, The Willows Inn on Lummi Island (Lummi Island, Washington)
Greg Denton and Gabrielle Quiñónez Denton, Ox (Portland, Oregon)
Renee Erickson, The Whale Wins (Seattle)
Justin Woodward, Castagna (Portland, Oregon)
Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi, Joule (Seattle)
Best Chef: New York City
Winner: Mark Ladner, Del Posto
Marco Canora, Hearth
Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisi, Carbone
Anita Lo, Annisa
Ignacio Mattos, Estela
Jonathan Waxman, Barbuto
Best Chef: South
Winner: Alon Shaya, Domenica (New Orleans)
Vishwesh Bhatt, Snackbar (Oxford, Mississippi)
Justin Devillier, La Petite Grocery (New Orleans)
Jose Enrique, Jose Enrique (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
Slade Rushing, Brennan’s (New Orleans)
Best Chef: Southeast
Winner: Jason Stanhope, FIG (Charleston, South Carolina)
John Fleer, Rhubarb (Asheville, North Carolina)
Edward Lee, 610 Magnolia (Louisville, Kentucky)
Steven Satterfield, Miller Union (Atlanta)
Andrew Ticer and Michael Hudman, Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen(Memphis)
Tandy Wilson, City House (Nashville)
Best Chef: Southwest
Winner: Aaron Franklin, Franklin Barbecue (Austin)
Kevin Binkley, Binkley’s (Cave Creek, Arizona)
Bryce Gilmore, Barley Swine (Austin)
Hugo Ortega, Hugo’s (Houston)
Martín Rios, Restaurant Martín (Santa Fe, New Mexico)
Justin Yu, Oxheart (Houston)
Best Chef: West
Winner: Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski, State Bird Provisions (San Francisco)
Matthew Accarrino, SPQR (San Francisco)
Michael Cimarusti, Providence (Los Angeles)
Corey Lee, Benu (San Francisco)
Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo, Animal (Los Angeles)