James Beard Foundation Snubs Detroit Chefs (Again)

Better luck next year. The James Beard Foundation today announced its whittled down list of finalists for the 2016 awards season. Despite a relatively strong Detroit showing in the semifinalists round with chefs and restaurants up for awards in several categories, once again not a single one made the latest cut.

The Metro Detroit semifinalists included Mabel Gray, up for Best New Restaurant, as well as chefs Nick Janutol (Forest) and Andy Hollyday (Selden Standard) nominated in the Best Chef: Great Lakes category and Garrett Lipar (Marais) for Rising Star of the Year. Having quietly left Marais last month, Lipar likely disqualified himself from the race. Fortunately, Michiganders can still revel in one well-deserved win: Al Ameer in Dearborn is one of five eateries across the country receiving a James Beard America's Classics award.

Book, broadcast, and journalism finalists were also announced today. Check out the national list of finalists here. The winners in the categories of Restaurant and Chef will be announced at a gala at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on Monday, May 2. This will be the second (and likely final) year the awards will be held in Chicago. Book, Broadcast, and Journalism winners will be announced at a separate event in New York City on Tuesday, April 26.

Correction: The James Beards will also be held in Chicago in 2017.