Today, the James Beard Foundation announced its 2023 semifinalists—the restaurants and individual chefs who are in contention for the American culinary world’s most prestigious award.

Seattle (and Washington) chefs made a strong showing in the Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific category, a regional honor we share with Oregon, Hawaii, and Alaska. But a handful of local names also appeared in the hyper-competitive national categories.

Renee Erickson is a semifinalist for Outstanding Chef; her Walrus and the Carpenter was a finalist for Outstanding Restaurant last year. Copine, a Ballard destination for special occasions, is up for Outstanding Restaurant. Meanwhile, Yenvy and Quynh Pham, the second-generation force behind Pho Bac, The Boat, and Phocific Standard Time, made their debut in the Outstanding Restaurateur category.

Seattle didn’t place in a few categories, though it’s lovely to see Rob Roy, Anu Apte’s distinguished cocktail bar in Belltown, is up for Outstanding Bar. During its audit that began in 2020, the James Beard Foundation removed the age requirement for what used to be the Rising Star Chef category. Ergo, you see guys like Beast and Cleaver owner Kevin Smith as a semifinalist in the new-ish Emerging Chef category, defined as a person “who is likely to make a significant impact in years to come, while contributing positively to their broader community.”

Washington, a state not exactly given to exacting or stuffy restaurant service, even fielded two candidates in Outstanding Hospitality: Lark on Capitol Hill and the Black Cypress in Pullman.

Seattle chefs Melissa Miranda (Musang), David Nichols (Eight Row), Mutsuko Soma (Kamonegi), and Aaron Verzosa (Archipelago) represent in the regional category, along with Dan Koommoo of Crafted in Yakima and Tony Brown of the Ruins in Spokane.

Two Portland-area spots are vying for Best New Restaurant: Gregory Gourdet’s Kann and Okta, Matthew Lightner’s project in McMinnville. Oregon also flexed in Outstanding Wine and Beverage Program, placing Hiyu Wine Farm in Hood River and Okay Omens, the casual sibling spot to Portland’s Castagna.

Local restaurant devotees will also recognize a few names in other categories, like original Mashiko owner Hajime Sato in the Outstanding Chef category.  Mariela Camacho founded her Comadre Panadería here in Seattle; now she's based in Austin and up for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker.

Hooray for everybody! On March 29 this list will be winnowed down to five finalists in each category (10 in Best New Restaurant). Winners will be awarded in a ceremony June 5. Awkward and obligatory disclosure: I’m a member of the James Beard Award committee, though the names announced today are the result of many passionate people lending their sharpest insight, then overthinking and deliberating like hell.

Best of luck to all. Here’s the full list of semifinalists announced today, with the full array of Northwest and Pacific names below (apparently Honolulu has great bakeries).

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Outstanding Restaurant

Copine, Seattle

Outstanding Chef

Renee Erickson, The Walrus and the Carpenter

Outstanding Restaurateur

Yenvy and Quynh Pham, Phở Bắc Sup Shop, Phởcific Standard Time, The Boat, Seattle

Laile Fairbairn, Locally Grown Restaurants (Snow City Cafe, South Restaurant + Coffeehouse, Spenard Roadhouse), Anchorage

Outstanding Bar Program

Rob Roy, Seattle

Outstanding Wine and Beverage Program

Hiyu Wine Farm, Hood River

OK Omens, Portland

Emerging Chef

Kevin Smith, Beast and Cleaver, Seattle

Best New Restaurant

Kann, Portland

Nami Kaze, Honolulu

ōkta, McMinnville

Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker

Michelle Karr-Ueoka, MW Restaurant, Honolulu

Outstanding Bakery

Breadshop, Honolulu

Fujiya Hawai‘i, Honolulu

Outstanding Hospitality

Lark, Seattle

The Black Cypress, Pullman

Best Chefs: Northwest and Pacific

Washington

Tony Brown, the Ruins, Spokane

Dan Koommoo, Crafted, Yakima

Melissa Miranda, Musang, Seattle 

David Nichols, Eight Row, Seattle 

Mutsuko Soma, Kamonegi, Seattle 

Aaron Verzosa, Archipelago, Seattle 

Oregon

Peter Cho, Han Oak, Portland 

Joshua Dorcak, MÄS, Ashland 

Jonathan Jones, Epilogue Kitchen & Cocktails, Salem 

Vince Nguyen, Berlu, Portland 

Thomas Pisha-Duffly, Gado Gado, Portland

Crystal Platt, Lion & Owl, Eugene

Hawai‘i

Brian Hirata, Na‘au, Hawai‘i Island

Keaka Lee, Kapa Hale, Honolulu

Sheldon Simeon, Tiffany's, Wailuku

Robert Urquidi, Ethel's Grill, Honolulu 

Lee Anne Wong, Papa‘aina, Lahaina

Alaska

Nathan Bentley, Altura Bistro, Anchorage, AK 

Beau Schooler, In Bocca Al Lupo, Juneau, AK 

Renee Trafton, Beak Restaurant, Sitka, AK