James Beard Award 2019 Semifinalists Include Denver Eateries

DENVER, CO – Just in time for Denver Restaurant Week, the 2019 James Beard Awards have released semifinalists, and Denver restaurants and chefs are on the list.

Four Denver restaurants, chefs and liquor producers are on the roster. The regional semifinalists for the awards — sometimes referred to as the Oscars of the culinary world — were announced Wednesday.

Denver is included in the prestigious "new restaurant" category with the introduction of Q House, 3421 E Colfax Ave, a "modern Chinese" eatery started this spring by chef Christopher Lin, an alum of David Chang’s Momofuku group in New York.

Appearing twice on the semifinalist roster is The Wolf's Tailor in Denver at 4058 Tejon St. Wolf's Tailor Chef Kelly Whitaker, is listed as among the best, as is Pastry Chef Jeb Breakell.

Also in Denver, Leopold Bros. Distillery's Todd and Scott Leopold are listed among the top in the "Outstanding Wine, Spirits, or Beer Producer" category.

Elsewhere in Colorado, the following restaurants made the 2019 semi finalist list:

• Outstanding Baker: Andy Clark, Moxie Bread Co., Louisville, CO
• Outstanding Service: Frasca Food and Wine, Boulder, CO
• Outstanding Wine Program: element 47 at the Little Nell, Aspen, CO
• Best Chef Southwest: Caroline Glover, Annette, Aurora, CO

The prestigious Restaurant and Chef Award semifinalists represent a wide range of culinary talent, from exceptional chefs and dining destinations nationally and across 10 different regions. The 21 award categories include best new restaurants, outstanding bars, outstanding bakers and rising star chefs 30 years of age or younger.

The final winners will be announced during a press conference in Houston on Wednesday, March 27. It will be hosted by James Beard Award–winning chef Hugo Ortega at his namesake Mexican restaurant, Hugo’s.

The James Beard Foundation solicits entries for the awards in mid-October of each year. They are reviewed by the Restaurant and Chef Committee to determine eligibility and regional representation, and are then voted on by more than 600 judges from across the country to determine the final nominees.

The same group of judges, which is comprised of leading regional restaurant critics, food and wine editors, culinary educators, and past James Beard Award winners, then votes on the nominees to select the winners.

Tabulations to determine the nominees and winners are done by independent auditors Lutz & Carr. The governing Awards committee, board of trustees, and staff of the James Beard Foundation do not vote, and the results are kept confidential until the presentation of winners in May.

Click here for the complete list of semifinalists.

Related: Here Are Menus For Denver Restaurant Week 2019

Beth Dalbey, Patch National Staff, contributed to this article

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