Five Vermont chefs, restaurants and drinking establishments were nominated as semifinalists for the James Beard Awards, the most prestigious in the restaurant industry, but none made it to the finals.
Mojo Hancy-Davis of the Burlington restaurant May Day and Alganesh Michael of the South Burlington catering business A Taste of Abyssinia had been nominated for best chef in the Northeast. They came in behind chefs in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Last year, Randolph chef Nisachong “Rung” Morgan put Vermont on the culinary map by taking that award for her restaurant, Saap.
This year, Amanda Wildermuth of the Burlington restaurant Honey Road had been nominated for outstanding pastry chef or baker in the country, but lost out to chefs and bakers in Ohio, Montana, Minnesota and California.
Middlebury’s Haymaker Bun Company had been nominated for outstanding bakery in the country, but came behind bakeries in Louisiana, Texas, Missouri and Florida.
Burlington’s Foam Brewers had been nominated for outstanding wine and other beverages program, but lost out to drinking establishments in New York, California, Texas and Michigan.