The 2018 James Beard Award Foundation finalists were announced today , and several chefs, bartenders and restaurants that the AJC has written about over the past year are in the running for one of the biggest culinary honors in the country. Read on to find out more about some of the nominees.

2018 James Beard Foundation Journalism Awards finalists

 Banchan, tradtional Korean side dishes, surround the in-table grill at ARI Korean Steakhouse. / CONTRIBUTED BY HENRI HOLLIS

Credit: Yvonne Zusel

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Credit: Yvonne Zusel

AJC food writer Wyatt Williams is a finalist for a MFK Fisher Distinguished Writing Award for a story published in Oxford American. Read some of his recent restaurant reviews:

2018 James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards

 Miles Macquarrie mixes classic cocktails at the Kimball House in Decatur. / AJC file photo

Credit: Yvonne Zusel

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Credit: Yvonne Zusel

Outstanding Bar Program

Read about finalist Kimball House:

Best Chef: Southeast

Read about finalist Mashama Bailey of The Grey in Savannah:

Read about finalist Katie Button of Nightshade in Asheville:

Best Chef: West

Read about finalist Jessica Koslow of Sqirl in Los Angeles:

James Beard Foundation Book Award finalists

American

Read reviews of  'Homegrown: Cooking from My New England Roots' by Matt Jennings and 'The Lost Kitchen' by Erin French.

Baking and Desserts

Read reviews of ' BraveTart: Iconic American Desserts' by Stella Parks and 'Sweet' by Yotam Ottolenghi and Helen Goh.

 Jim Meehan. Photo credit: Kristen Mendiola

Credit: Yvonne Zusel

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Credit: Yvonne Zusel

Beverage

Read reviews of '3-ingredient Cocktails' by Robert Simonson and 'Mezcal: The History, Craft & Cocktails of the World's Ultimate Artisanal Spirit' by Emma Janzen, and get tips for entertaining and drink recipes from Jim Meehan, author of 'Meehan's Bartender Manual'.

General

We talk with Christopher Kimball , author of 'Christopher Kimball's Milk Street: The New Home Cooking', and review Melissa Clark's 'Dinner: Changing the Game' and Samin Nosrat's 'Salt, Fat, Acid Heat'.

International

Read a review of 'Nopalito' by Gonzalo Guzman and Stacy Adimando.

Reference, History, and Scholarship

Read our review of 'Peppers of the Americas' by Maricel E. Presilla.

 The Pho Cookbook, by Andrea Nguyen

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Credit: Yvonne Zusel

Single Subject

Read our review of 'The Pho Cookbook: Easy to Adventurous Recipes for Vietnam's Favorite Soup and Noodles' by Andrea Nguyen.

Vegetable-Focused Cooking

Read our reviews of 'The Book of Greens' by Jenn Louis with Kathleen Squires, 'Six Seasons: A New Way with Vegetables' by Joshua McFadden with Martha Holmberg and  'In My Kitchen' by Deborah Madison

2018 James Beard Foundation Broadcast Media Awards finalists

Outstanding Personality/Host

We talk with Pati Jinich, host of 'Pati's Mexican Table' , about 'growing and evolving' Mexican cuisine.

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See past James Beard Award winners with Atlanta ties

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