2019 James Beard Award semifinalists include eight from Colorado for the “Oscars of food”

It’s a big day in the world of restaurants: The James Beard Foundation released its list of 2019 restaurant and chef award semifinalists.

For the uninitiated, the James Beard awards are the Oscars of the food world — to win one (or even make the list of semifinalists or final nominees) is a massive honor that cannot be overstated. These awards recognized the absolute best chefs, restaurants, pastry chefs, bakers and more from across the country.

A handful of Colorado restaurants and chefs made it into the semifinals, which means they have a chance to make it to the final round of nominees before the 29th annual James Beard Awards Gala in May in Chicago. The list of finalists will be announced on March 27.

MORE: Here’s what Alex Seidel’s 2018 James Beard Foundation award meant for the Denver dining scene

The process for determining the list of semifinalists started in October with entries from an online open call and from a group of 250 volunteer panelists around the country. More than 600 judges will now vote on the list of semifinalists to determine the final nominees. Later, they’ll vote to select the winners, which are kept confidential until the award ceremony.

The judges are past James Beard award winners, leading restaurant critics, food and wine editors and culinary educators.

Here are the Colorado semifinalists for the 2019 James Beard awards:

Best New Restaurant

Q House, Denver

Best Chef, Southwest

Caroline Gover, Annette, Aurora

Kelly Whitaker, The Wolf’s Tailor, Denver

Outstanding Baker

Andy Clark, Moxie Bread, Louisville

Outstanding Pastry Chef

Jeb Breakell, The Wolf’s Tailor, Denver

Outstanding Service

Frasca Food and Wine, Boulder

Outstanding Wine Service

Element 47 at the Little Nell, Aspen

Outstanding Wine, Spirits or Beer Producer

Todd Leopold and Scott Leopold, Leopold Bros., Denver

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

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