The list of semifinalists for the 2012 James Beard Foundation Awards is out - and several restaurants and chefs in SoHo, TriBeCa and FiDi have made the cut!
The James Beard Foundation Awards honor all aspects of the industry - from chefs and restaurateurs to cookbook authors and food journalists to restaurant designers and architects. It is the highest honor for food and beverage professionals in North America. The James Beard Foundation Awards are presented each spring at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center on Monday, May 7.
Here are the 2012 James Beard Foundation Awards semifinalists in SoHo, TriBeCa and FiDi:
Outstanding Bar Program
One of the best bars in SoHo, Pegu Club is named after a bar near the Gulf of Martaban in Burma, frequented by British Colonial Officers in the late 1800s. Confused? Long story short, Pegu Club knows how to make a drink. They're focusing on preserving the classic art of the cocktail through careful preparation and respectful methodology.
Outstanding Restaurant
Balthazar has earned rave reviews since it opened in 1997, and co-chefs Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr are getting some attention this year. The duo met while serving as sous chefs at the 4-star Daniel. Balthazar serves traditional bistro far from breakfast through late-night supper with a focus on French cuisine.
For the complete list of 2012 James Beard Foundation Award semifinalists, visit the James Beard Foundation online.
Pegu Club: 77 W. Houston bet. W. Broadway and Wooster St.
Balthazar: 80 Spring St., bet. Broadway and Crosby St.
