Well-known Miami chefs made the semifinalist list in the James Beard Award 2022 Restaurant and Chef Awards announced today. These include Michael Schwartz of Michael’s Genuine for outstanding chef, Zak Stern for outstanding baker, Zitz Sum for best new restaurant, Cafe La Trova for outstanding bar program. Finalists will be announced on Mar. 16, and the winners will be celebrated in Chicago on June 13. The annual awards recognize exceptional talent and achievement in the culinary arts, hospitality, media, and broader food system.

Here’s a list of South Florida’s semifinalists:

Outstanding Chef
Michael Schwartz, Michael’s Genuine

Best New Restaurant
Zitz Sum, Coral Gables

Outstanding Pastry Chef
Antonio Bachour, Bachour

Outstanding Baker
Zak Stern, Zak the Baker

Outstanding Bar Program
Cafe La Trova, Miami

Best Chef, South
Michael Beltran, Ariete
Valerie, Nando and Fernando Chang, Itamae
Jeremy Ford, Stubborn Seed
Niven Patel, Ghee
Michael Pirolo, Macchialina

More here: https://www.jamesbeard.org/blog/the-2022-james-beard-award-semfinalists