’Tis the season for restaurant awards, between last week’s announcement of the James Beard finalists and the RAMMYs. Up next: Food & Wine Magazine published the nominees for the People’s Best New Chef. Unlike other accolades, which are chosen by a panel of judges, the public can vote online for their favorite new toques through March 31.
The nominees are divided into categories by location. Washington chefs include Mike Friedman of the Red Hen—who’s also up for Rising Culinary Star of the Year in the RAMMYs—and Ripple’s Marjorie Meek-Bradley, a semifinalist in this year’s James Beard Awards (sadly she didn’t make last week’s cut). The two locals are up against tough competitors, including Greg Vernick of Philadelphia’s Vernick Food & Drink and Justin Severino of Cure in Pittsburgh. Good luck to our Washingtonians!
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
