Plus, NYC’s Grace Young was awarded the Humanitarian of the Year honor for her work to save America’s Chinatowns.
The James Beard Foundation announced the finalists for its 2022 awards — and 12 NYC chef and restaurants made the cut .
The long list of semifinalists was announced in February after the award take a two - yr hiatus amid COVID-19 . From the whittled - down list of finalists , a winner for each award category will be announce and celebrated at a gala in Chicago on Monday , June 13 .
In addition to finalists in the restaurant and chef category , the foundation announced honoree for a handful of extra awards , including the Humanitarian of the Year Award , which went to NYC ’s award - winning cookbook writer , culinary historian , and filmmaker , Grace Young , forher turn to bring through America ’s Chinatownsand combat Asian American and Pacific Islander ( AAPI ) detest during the pandemic .
Sylvia’s Restaurant|Photo by Cole Saladino for Thrillist
" The Awards are a great admonisher that we are among innovators , entrepreneurs , and trailblazers who represent a wide range of regions , cultures , and cooking philosophies , " say Tanya Holland , chair of the James Beard Awards Committee .
Here ’s a list of all the James Beard Award finalists hail from NYC :
Best Chef: New York State
Five NYC chefs are finalists for the good chef award in New York State : Amanda Cohen ofDirt Candy , JJ Johnson ofFieldtrip , Ayesha Nurdjaja ofShuka , Chintan Pandya ofDhamaka , and Junghyun Park ofAtomix . The award will honor chef in 12 regions across the country who “ set gamy measure in their culinary skills and leadership abilities , and who are making efforts to serve create a sustainable body of work civilisation in their various realm . ”
Best New Restaurant
Two NYC eating house were selected as finalist for the good raw restaurant award : Dhamaka , a impassioned provincial Amerind restaurant place at Essex Market from chef and partner Chintan Pandya and restaurateur Roni Mazumdar , andUrsula , a lay - back New Mexican cafe and bakehouse in Crown Heights by Eric See . The award will go to a eating house that “ opened in 2020 or 2021 that already demonstrates excellency in cuisine and hospitality and seems potential to make a important impact in years to get along . ”
Outstanding Hospitality
Sylvia ’s Restaurant , Harlem’siconic destination for psyche foodoperated by Thrillist Block Party maven , Tren’ness Woods - Black , that ’s been a cornerstone of the residential district since 1962 , was selected as a finalist for the award for outstanding cordial reception . The class will honor a restaurant that has been candid for at least five years that “ demonstrates consistent and splendid hospitality and service to its dining community , while also making efforts to supply a sustainable study culture . ”
Outstanding Pastry Chef
Caroline Schiff , the pastry chef whipping up layer cakes , baked Alaska , and more atGage & Tollner , was honored as a finalist for the outstanding pastry chef award . The family will honor an exceptional chef who has been lick with dessert for at least three years .
Outstanding Wine Program
Two NYC restaurants were pick out as finalists for the outstanding wine political platform award : The Four Horsemen , a minuscule plates restaurant and rude wine bar in Williamsburg run by owner and wine manager Justin Chearno , andFrenchette , a bistro and bar run with a natural vino programme by director and sommelier , Jorge Riera . The award will highlight a restaurant or saloon with “ a carefully see wine-colored lean and a well - informed approach to helping customer opt and drink vino . ”
Emerging Chef
Calvin Eng , the chef and possessor of the buzzy new Cantonese - American restaurant , Bonnie ’s , was pick out as a finalist for the emerging chef honour . The award will celebrate “ a chef who exhibit olympian talent , character reference , and leadership power , and who is likely to make a significant impact in years to do . ”
