Meet This Year’s Contenders
The James Beard Awards®, widely considered “the Oscars of food,” have been presented annually by the James Beard Foundation since 1990. The awards recognize excellence in America’s professional food and beverage industry and a demonstrated commitment to the James Beard Foundation’s core values of equity, transparency, respect, integrity and community.
This year, Visit Buffalo formed a James Beard Awards Selection Committee of local experts to identify Buffalo’s strongest candidates for consideration across several categories.
Discover this year’s final selections, meet the selection committee and learn more about the James Beard Awards below.
Ryan Fernandez of Southern Junction BBQ
Selected for Best Chef New York State
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Kevin and Melissa Gardner of Five Points Bakery
Selected for Outstanding Baker and Dessert Professional
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Jennifer Boye of Moriarty Meats & Cafe
Selected for Best Chef New York State
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Bruce Wieszala of Beacon Grille
Selected for Best Chef New York State
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Colleen Stillwell of Butter Block
Selected for Outstanding Baker Or Dessert Professional
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Darian Bryan of Bratts Hill and Reserve Steakhouse
Selected for Emerging Chef
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Jenn Batt of Quokka Sweets
Selected for Outstanding Baker or Dessert Professional
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Gina Ocasio of Mira
Selected for Outstanding Baker or Dessert Professional
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Manny Ocasio of Mira
Selected for Emerging Chef
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MORE ABOUT JAMES BEARD
The New York Times called James Beard (1903-1985) the dean of American cookery. He was the first chef to host a cooking show on network television, an early champion of local ingredients and regional traditions, and the person most responsible for convincing America it had a culinary identity worth celebrating.
Since 1986, the James Beard Foundation has evolved from a body that celebrates gastronomy into a changemaker and thought leader, driving impact across the country, particularly in the food and restaurant industry.
