2023 James Beard semifinalists
7 San Antonio restaurants score coveted James Beard Award nominations
The James Beard Foundation has revealed the semifinalists for its 2023 Restaurant and Chef Awards. Seven San Antonio restaurants have been included in both national categories and the coveted title of Best Chef: Texas.
Considered the Oscars of the food world, the awards recognize outstanding chefs and other culinary professionals in a wide range of categories ranging from Outstanding Chef to Best New Restaurant. The awards also include media categories that will be announced at a later date.
San Antonio restaurants and bars are well represented among both the national and regional awards. Overall, the city earned three national nominations and four nominations for Best Chef: Texas. Perhaps one of them will follow the five Texas chefs who took home James Beard Awards in 2022.
They are:
Emerging Chef: Jennifer Hwa Dobbertin, Best Quality Daughter
Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker: Anne Ng, Bakery Lorraine
Outstanding Bar: Weathered Souls Brewing Company
Best Chef: Texas nominees
Nicola Blaque, The Jerk Shack
Andrew Ho, Andrew Samia, and Sean Wen, Curry Boys BBQ
John Russ, Clementine
Ernest Servantes and David Kirkland, Burnt Bean Co. (Seguin)
Elsewhere, Houston and Dallas both boast 10 nominees, Austin has six, and Fort Worth has two.
As with last year, the nominees include a wide range of barbecue pitmasters. Jerk Shack and Curry Boys BBQ are joined by the pitmasters at multiple other restaurants. Building on Austin chef Iliana de la Vega’s Best Chef: Texas win last year, several chefs who serve Mexican cuisine received semifinalist nominations.
Finalists will be announced on Wednesday, March 29. The Foundation will reveal its winners at an awards ceremony on Monday, June 5, 2023, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.