Multiple Atlantans named 2019 James Beard Award semifinalists

Bryan Furman in the smokehouse at B’s Cracklin’ Barbecue in Riverside. CONTRIBUTED BY MIA YAKEL

Credit: Bob Townsend

Credit: Bob Townsend

Bryan Furman in the smokehouse at B’s Cracklin’ Barbecue in Riverside. CONTRIBUTED BY MIA YAKEL

The James Beard Foundation announced the semifinalists for 2019 James Beard Awards today, and several names from metro Atlanta and other cities in Georgia are in the running for these coveted culinary honors.

The following chefs and restaurants are among this year’s semifinalists:

Outstanding Bar Program: Kimball House, Decatur; Ticonderoga Club, Atlanta

Best Chef SoutheastMasahama Bailey, The Grey, SavannahBrian So, Spring, MariettaBryan Furman, B's Cracklin BBQ, AtlantaRyan Smith, Staplehouse, Atlanta; Meherwan Irani, Chai Pani in Decatur and Botiwalla in Atlanta

Outstanding Restaurateur: Hugh Acheson, Empire State South, Five & Ten, The National and others in Atlanta and Athens; Steve Palmer of Charleston-based The Indigo Road restaurant group, which also owns Oak Steakhouse and Colletta in Alpharetta and O-Ku, Tiny Lou's and Donetto in Atlanta

Outstanding Wine Program: Miller Union, Atlanta

Rising Star Chef: Nolan Wynn, Banshee, Atlanta

Outstanding BakerChris Wilkins, Root Baking Co., Atlanta

Outstanding Service: Kimball House, Decatur

Finalists will be announced March 27 in Houston, and the awards will be held May 6 in Chicago.

The two Georgians who made it to the finalist stage last year, Bailey and Kimball House, make repeat appearances on this year's list. Others who have been named semifinalists in past years include So, Smith (who has also been a finalist), Irani, Acheson (who has won Beard Awards for Best Chef Southeast and Best Cookbook in American Cooking), Palmer and Miller Union (whose executive chef, Steven Satterfield, was named Best Chef Southeast in 2017).

Wynn, Wilkins, Furman and Ticonderoga Club are all being recognized for the first time.

RELATED VIDEO: Burning questions with Bryan Furman of B’s Cracklin’ BBQ

RELATED:

Read more stories like this by liking Atlanta Restaurant Scene on Facebook, following @ATLDiningNews on Twitter and @ajcdining on Instagram.