Woburn Bar Doesn't Make Cut For James Beard Award Finalists

WOBURN, MA -- The James Beard Foundation released its list of finalists for its prestigous, culinary awards, but it did not include the Baldwin Bar in Woburn. Last month the foundation released a lengthy list of semi-finalists, including the Baldwin Bar in the "Outstanding bar Program" category. Winners will be announced at the James Beard Awards Gala in Chicago on May 6.

This year's nominations are the first since the foundation announced in October that it was changing is judging criteria to produce a more diverse list of nominees and winners, including a change calling for the judging panel to be made up of proportions representative of nationwide demographics.

The Baldwin Bard is owned by Ron Duan and is on the second floor of the Baldwin Mansion, which, for nondrinkers, is locally best known as the home of Sichuan Garden, the Chinese restaurant Duan's parents operate on the first floor. The bar has just 45 seats and is only open Thursday through Sunday.

Last year, the drinking Website The Daily Meal named the Baldwin one of the 150 best bars in America. In 2017, Esquire magazine named it to its list of best bars in America.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).