The first-round nominations for the 2017 James Beard Restaurant & Chef Awards were announced this morning.
Finalists will be announced Wednesday, March 15; the awards ceremony is Monday, May 1, in Chicago.
Five New Jersey culinary notables are nominated. The three chefs have each been nominated at least once before:
Outstanding Restaurant:
Sagami, Collingswood (first-time nominee)
Best Chef/Mid-Atlantic Region:
Scott Anderson, Elements, Princeton
Joey Baldino, Zeppoli, Collingswood
Dan Richer, Razza Pizza Artigianale, Jersey City
Outstanding Baker:
Elizabeth Degener, known as the Bread Lady of Cape May, from Enfin Farms, Cape May. (first-time nominee)
Also noteworthy for Jerseyeans: Chef Anthony Mangieri, whose nationally renowned Una Pizza Napoletana was born in Point Pleasant Beach, was nominated as Best Chef/West for his San Francisco incarnation of Una Pizza. We knew him when.