More on the James Beard Finalists 2008

*Congratulations to Fritz Maytag, legendary brewer and owner of Anchor Brewing Company. He'll be the James Beard Foundation Lifetime Achivement Award winner.

*3 Minneapolis chefs make the list in the midwestern division. I suppose it's fortunate they don't have Chicago in their area like we do. Isaac Becker at 112 Eatery, Tim McKee at La Belle Vie, and Alex Roberts of Restaurant Alma. (also, Colby Garrelts of Bluestem in Kansas City and Adam Siegel of Bartolotta's Lake Park Bistro in Milwaukee.)

*Louisville was shut out for many of the same reasons Indianapolis and Cincinatti have tough times making the finals. The finalists from the Southern region include three Atlanta chefs and two from Charleston. None from further afield in the region.

*Spiaggia in Chicago makes the short list of five restaurants nationwide in Service although they're up against Gary Danko, a tough competitor in this category.

*Nominees for Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional are: Dale DeGroff (Dale DeGroff Co., Inc., NYC), Merry Edwards (Merry Edwards Wines, Sebastopol, CA), David Lett (The Eyrie Vineyards, McMinnville, OR), Bobby Stuckey (Frasca Food and Wine, Boulder, CO), and Terry Theise (Terry Theise Estate Selections, Silver Spring, MD) That's two nominations for Frasca in Boulder -- the Chef was also nominated for his region.

*Bin 36 (Brian Duncan) in Chicago makes the cut for the Outstanding Wine Service Award along with two out of Las Vegas -- Aureole (Steven Geddes) and Picasso (Robert Smith). Also, Blackberry Farm in Walland, TN makes the list. Along with Eleven Madison Park in NYC.

*Pastry Chef Mindy Segal of HotChocolate in Chicago makes the cut for Outstanding Pastry chef along with P*ONG in NYC and Tartine in SF.

* Best New Restaurant (for those that opened in 2007): Anthos, NYC, Chef/Owner: Michael Psilakis, Owner: Donatella Arpaia; Central Michel Richard, Washington, DC, Chef/Owner: Michel Richard; Fearing's at the Ritz Carlton, Dallas, Chef/Owner: Dean Fearing The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas; Osteria Mozza, Los Angeles, Chef: Matt Molina, Owners: Nancy Silverton, Mario Batali, Joseph Bastianich; Osteria, Philadelphia Chef/Owners: Marc Vetri, Jeff Michaud, Owner: Jeff Benjamin

* Outstanding Restauranteur: Richard Melman of Chicago's Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises picks up a nomination and will compete against Puck, Vongericten, Bastianich/Batali, and Tom Douglas of Seattle.

* Outstanding Chef:
Grant Achatz, Alinea, Chicago
José Andrés, Minibar, Washington, DC
Dan Barber, Blue Hill, NYC
Suzanne Goin, Lucques, Los Angeles
Frank Stitt, Highlands Bar & Grill, Birmingham, AL

* Outstanding Restaurant:

Boulevard, San Francisco, Chef/Owner: Nancy Oakes, Owner: Pat Kuleto
Campanile, Los Angeles, Chef/Owner: Mark Peel
Gramercy Tavern, NYC, Owner: Danny Meyer
Jean Georges, NYC, Chef/Owner: Jean-Georges Vongerichten
The Slanted Door, San Francisco, Chef/Owner: Charles Phan