Image courtesy of the James Beard Foundation
 
On Wednesday, February 14, the James Beard Foundation reduced its list of semifinalists for the 28th annual James Beard Awards into the final nominees for each award. Among those are the Outstanding Baker and Outstanding Pastry Chef awards.

The Outstanding Baker category is represented by 6 finalists, while the Outstanding Pastry Chef category is represented by 5 finalists. Each category’s winner, along with all the other James Beard Award categories, will be announced at the 2018 James Beard Awards Gala. The ceremony takes place on Monday, May 7 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Here are the nominees for Outstanding Baker and Outstanding Pastry Chef:

Outstanding Baker (Qualifications: A chef or baker who prepares breads, pastries, or desserts in a retail bakery, and who serves as a national standard-bearer of excellence. Must have been a baker or pastry chef for at least five years)

  • Dianna Daoheung, Black Seed Bagels, NYC
  • Zachary Golper, Bien Cuit, Brooklyn, NY
  • Maura Kilpatrick, Sofra Bakery and Café, Cambridge, MA
  • Belinda Leong and Michel Suas: B. Patisserie, San Francisco, CA
  • Alison Pray: Standard Baking Co., Portland, ME
  • Greg Wade: Publican Quality Bread, Chicago, IL

Outstanding Pastry Chef (Qualifications: A chef or baker who prepares desserts, pastries, or breads in a restaurant, and who serves as a national standard bearer of excellence. Must have been a pastry chef or baker for the past five years)

  • Kelly Fields, Willa Jean, New Orleans, LA
  • Meg Galus, Boka, Chicago, IL
  • Margarita Manzke, République, Los Angeles, CA
  • Dolester Miles, Highlands Bar & Grill, Birmingham, AL
  • Diane Yang, Spoon and Stable, Minneapolis, MN