An announcement by the Beard foundation reveals that the Portland food and drink scene is well-represented in the semifinals of the 2019 James Beard Awards.
The Awards are named for James Beard, an Oregon native and food celebrity. According to the Foundation, the Awards were created to “recognize culinary professionals for excellence and achievement in their fields.” In this, the 29th year of the James Beard Awards, Portland has a cocktail bar, new restaurant, baker, and a dozen chefs among the semifinalists.
The semifinalists, or “long list”, includes Portland nominees in six national awards categories:
• Outstanding Baker – the Bakeshop’s Kim Boyce
• Outstanding Chef – Le Pigeion’s Gabriel Rucker
• Best New Restaurant – Canard
• Outstanding Wine Program – Davenport
• Outstanding Bar – Expatriate
• Outstanding Restaurateur – Langbaan’s Akkapong (Earl) Ninsom.
Chambers of Commerce are always on the lookout for features to attract conferences and conventions. Inclusion on the “long list” is the type of information they send to a Print shop along with their other promotional materials.
One surprise this year is the absence of Clyde Common, a downtown Portland cocktail bar that has made the semifinals list for Outstanding Bar each year starting in 2012. The bar was also a finalist 2016-2018, as well as in 2014.
Dates and places to remember are March 27 for a press conference at 7:00 am in Houston to announce finalists, and an Awards Gala at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on May 6 to announce the winners.
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