Restaurant award season is officially here. This morning, Washingtonian unveiled our 100 Very Best Restaurants list. (Peruvian tasting room Causa was named No. 1 yesterday.) And today, the James Beard Foundation announced semifinalists for its 2024 awards. Among them are a decent showing of nominees across DC region.
Michael Rafidi of Navy Yard Levantine restaurant Albi is up for “Outstanding Chef”—the top award that Rob Rubba of sustainability-minded Shaw tasting room Oyster Oyster won last year. Perry’s Masako Morishita is in the running for “Emerging Chef.” Chef Aaron Silverman’s party-ready tasting room Pineapple & Pearls in Capitol Hill is a semifinalist for “outstanding restaurant”—as is longstanding Falls Church fine-dining restaurant 2941. Local talent also dominates the Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic category.
Find this year’s DC-area contenders below and the full list here. Finalists for the restaurant and chef awards will be announced on April 3, and winners will be feted during a ceremony at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on June 10.
Outstanding Restaurateur
Ashok Bajaj, Knightsbridge Restaurant Group (Rasika, Annabelle, Sababa, and others)
Hollis Wells Silverman, Eastern Point Collective (The Duck & The Peach, La Collina, The Wells, and others)
Outstanding Chef
Michael Rafidi, Albi
Outstanding Restaurant
2941
Pineapple & Pearls
Emerging Chef
Masako Morishita, Perry’s
Outstanding Bakery
Pluma by Bluebird Bakery
Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker
Susan Bae, Moon Rabbit
Outstanding Hospitality
Fiola
Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program
Tail Up Goat
Outstanding Bar
Service Bar
Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)
Angel Barreto, Anju
Najmieh Batmanglij and Christopher Morgan, Joon
Amy Brandwein, Centrolina
Tony Conte, Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana (Darnestown, MD)
Keem Hughley, Bronze
Esther Lee, Obelisk
Travis Milton, Hickory at Nicewonder Farm and Vineyards (Bristol, VA)
Harley Peet, Bas Rouge (Easton, MD)
Yuan Tang, Rooster & Owl
Kevin Tien, Moon Rabbit
Jessica Sidman covers the people and trends behind D.C.’s food and drink scene. Before joining Washingtonian in July 2016, she was Food Editor and Young & Hungry columnist at Washington City Paper. She is a Colorado native and University of Pennsylvania grad.
