The Carroll Gardens Spots Vying For James Beard Award

CARROLL GARDENS, NY — Several Carroll Gardens spots are in the running for one of the country's top culinary honors, the James Beard Foundation announced.

Clover Club, Frankies 457 Spuntino and baker Zachary Golper at Bien Cuit were announced as semi-finalists in their respective categories for the prestigious James Beard Award, the foundation said Thursday.

The Foundation will announce the final nominations for the categories — ranging from best chefs to best service — on March 14 with the award ceremony on April 27.

The popular cocktail spot Clover Club, at 210 Smith St., was given the nod in for this year's "Outstanding Bar Program" award along with 20 other spots around the country, including Bar Goto and Dante in New York City. Clover Club opened in 2008 and became well-known for their seasonal cocktail menu, being called one of the best bars in the world.

Golper, known for his handmade bread, of the French spot Bien Cuit at 120 Smith St. was among the semi-finalists for the "Outstanding Baker" category. This is the second year in a row Golper was named as a semifinalist for the award.

The foundation also nominated the Italian eatery Frankies 457 Spuntino, at 457 Court St., for the "Outstanding Restaurant" award given to spots opened for more than 10 years that are a "national standard bearer of consistent quality and excellence in food, atmosphere, and service."

The semifinalists — which included plenty of other Brooklyn spots — were selected from a list of more than 20,000 entries submitted online, according to the foundation.

Andrew Tarlow — owner of Williamsburg Diner, Marlow & Sons and Reynard — was among the semifinalists along with Bed-Stuy based brewer Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø of Evil Twin Brewing.

Five Brooklynites also secured nominations in the city's best chef's categories: Greg Baxtrom of Olmsted in Prospect Heights, Rawia Bishara of Tanoreen in Bay Ridge, Carlo Mirarchi of Blanca in Bushwick, Erik Ramirez of Llama Inn in Williamsburg and Missy Robbins of Lilia in Williamsburg.

Image: Patch file photo