Highlights from the 2009 Beard Foundation Awards Nominations

By Serena Brahney

No, Chicago doesn't yet have a Michelin guide. And nope, Eric Ripert isn't opening a restaurant here, either. But yesterday, this windy and wonderful city received another kind of culinary infusion.

Her name is Susan Ungaro.

The president of the James Beard Foundation was here Monday morning to officially announce the nominations for the organization's esteemed annual awards. Hosted by the ever-gracious Rick and Deann Bayless at Frontera Grill, the event - while decidedly lacking much chef presence - was rife with media and delectable Mexican chocolate. Though disappointed by the dearth of chef superstars, Bayless's 'bean-to-bar moka' certainly helped mollify.

With 52 categories (it really is like the Oscars), relaying all of the JBF Award finalists would take more time than re-creating a Ferran Adrià dish, so for both your sake and mine, I'll refrain. Instead, some notable highlights.

This year's Outstanding Chef category includes a geographically diverse lineup, with Tom Colicchio (Craft) and Dan Barber (Blue Hill) representing New York, Suzanne Goin (Lucques) from LA, José Andrés (Minibar) from D.C. and Chicago's very own Paul Kahan (Blackbird) in the running. Kahan's other ventures also received nominations with Avec's Koren Grieveson up for Best Chef: Great Lakes and his pork-pub, The Publican, nominated for both Restaurant Design and Graphics. It seems this could be a big year for my Chicago culinary sweetheart.

And perhaps for my California love, too - José Andrés also nabbed a second nomination, this time in the Best New Restaurant category for his LA eatery, The Bazaar. At once whimsical and serious, traditional and contemporary, the tapas destination is as pleasing to the eye as it is to the palate. Unsurprising, then, that the Philippe Starck-designed masterpiece is also nominated for Outstanding Restaurant Design.

New York newcomers Corton, Scarpetta and Momofuku Ko round out Best New Restaurant, where Chicago again managed to make its presence known. L2O takes the final nomination in the category.

But on to the veterans, the heavyweights, the undeniable mainstays: the nominees for Outstanding Restaurant. New York titans Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich, who won in 2008 for Outstanding Restaurateur, this year got a best resto nod for Babbo. Jean Georges, Boulevard and Portland, Maine's Fore Street also made the cut, as did Highlands Bar & Grill of Birmingham, Alabama.

As for the people behind the operations, this year's Outstanding Restaurateur nominees are Drew Nieporent (Nobu, Corton), Stephen Starr (Buddakan, Morimoto), Keith McNally (Balthazar, Pastis), Rich Melman (L2O, Everest) and Tom Douglas (Dahlia Lounge, Serious Pie). FYI, my money's on Melman. Even if I am a little biased.

This, of course, scarcely dents the surface of nominees, and admittedly, I've neglected to give many a deserving finalist (like, say Fox, Orfaly or Dufresne) his/her play. Fortunately, you can peruse the rest of the categories at the awards website where, if you're like me, you'll fantasize over what it might be like to actually attend the ceremonies this May.

That's right - while we may have had the honor of hosting the nomination announcement, the James Beard Awards will be held in New York, per usual. But I think I have a pretty decent backup plan. With pork belly (and pen) in hand, I'll be keeping track of the results from my seat at Blackbird.

After all, someone's got to hold down the fort while Paul takes the podium.

N.B. Chicagoans: Aside from the nominations, Rick Bayless also revealed a new concept of his to open this summer. The torta- and chocolate-centered restaurant is aptly named Choco, and aptly located...right next to Frontera and Topolobampo. At this point, they probably ought to just rename that strip of Clark Street "the block that Bayless built." Or the "Enchilada Esplanade."