Zak the Baker Nominated for James Beard Award

Congratulations, Zak the Baker! The homegrown baker has been nominated for Outstanding Bakery for the James Beard Foundation’s Restaurant and Chef Awards. Last year Zak Stern represented South Florida as a nominee in the Outstanding Baker category. This new category that “recognizes a baker of breads, pastries or desserts that demonstrates consistent excellence in food, atmosphere, hospitality and operations, while contributing to its broader community.”

Stern, a Palmetto graduate, introduced much of South Florida to his rustic artisan loaves, first at the weekly Pinecrest Gardens farmers market, then later at locations in Wynwood. Today, he sells his bread and baked goods to Whole Foods Markets and at his bakery and deli. In addition to his sourdough, ZTB sells croissants, babka, cookies, rugelach, bagels, challah and sandwich loaves.

For the second year in a row, Stern was the only South Florida semifinalist to be nominated in the prestigious awards program. In recent years, South Florida chefs, restaurateurs and others in the hospitality business have reached semifinalist status, only to fail to make the final cut. These include this year's semi-finalists Mohamed Ali Alkassar and Niven Patel of Alpareno Restaurant Group (Ghee Indian Kitchen, Orno and Mamey); Michael Schwartz of Michael’s Genuine; Ariete; Akino West of Rosie’s Miami; Manuel and Jesus Brazon, Caracas Bakery, Doral; Macchialina; Timon Balloo of The Katherine; and Fernando, Nando and Val Chang of Itamae, Miami.

In the past year, Miami's dining scene has been under a spotlight, most notably in Bon Appetit's current issue proclaiming Miami as the Food City of the Year and calling out a number of restaurants, including Ariete, Rosie's, Itamae and Zak the Baker. Last year's inaugural Michelin guide to Miami gave Ariete one star, and awarded Bib Gourmand titles to Ghee Indian Kitchen, Michael's Genuine, Itamae and Zak the Baker.

This year’s James Beard Foundation award ceremony will be held in Chicago June 5.