On Wednesday, February 26, the James Beard Foundation revealed its list of semifinalists for the 30th annual James Beard Awards. In both the Outstanding Baker and Outstanding Pastry Chef categories, 20 semifinalists have been chosen.
To qualify as an Outstanding Baker or Pastry Chef, individuals must prepare breads, pastries, or desserts in a retail bakery (for bakers) or restaurant (for pastry chefs) setting, serve as a national standard-bearer of excellence, and must have been a baker or pastry chef for at least five years.
The winners of the 2020 James Beard Foundation Awards will be announced at the James Beard Awards Gala, which takes place on Monday, May 4, 2020 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
2020 Semifinalists for Outstanding Baker
- Kim Boyce, Bakeshop, Portland, OR
- Spencer Budros, Pistacia Vera, Columbus, OH
- Evrim Dogu and Evin Dogu, Sub Rosa Bakery, Richmond, VA
- Tova du Plessis, Essen Bakery, Philadelphia
- Graison Gill, Bellegarde Bakery, New Orleans
- Zachary Golper, Bien Cuit, NYC
- Clyde Greenhouse, Kessler Baking Studio, Dallas
- Don Guerra, Barrio Bread, Tucson, AZ
- Briana Holt, Tandem Coffee + Bakery, Portland, ME
- Maura Kilpatrick, Sofra Bakery, Cambridge, MA
- Ayako Kurokawa, Burrow, NYC
- Lisa Ludwinski, Sister Pie, Detroit
- Moshit Mizrachi-Gabbitas, Janjou Pâtisserie, Boise, ID
- David Norman, Easy Tiger Bake Shop & Beer Garden, Austin
- Taylor Petrehn, 1900 Barker, Lawrence, KS
- Nathaniel Reid, Nathaniel Reid Bakery, Kirkwood, MO
- Avery Ruzicka, Manresa Bread, Los Gatos, CA
- Matt Tinder, Saboteur Bakery, Bremerton, WA
- Chris Wilkins, Root Baking Co., Atlanta
- Na Young Ma, Proof Bakery, Los Angeles
2020 Semifinalists for Outstanding Pastry Chef
- Antonio Bachour, Bachour, Coral Gables, FL
- Neil Blazin, Driftwood Oven, Pittsburgh
- Lincoln Carson, Bon Temps, Los Angeles
- Ali and Kevin Cohane, Persephone, Jackson, WY
- Renae Connolly, Benedetto, Cambridge, MA
- Juan Contreras, Atelier Crenn, San Francisco
- Megan Garrelts, Rye, Leawood, KS
- Sylvia Gould, Kool Beanz Cafe, Tallahassee, FL
- Maggie Huff, Homewood, Dallas
- Margarita Manzke, République, Los Angeles
- Claudia Martinez, Tiny Lou's, Atlanta
- Mimi Mendoza, Senia, Honolulu
- Diane Moua, Spoon and Stable, Minneapolis
- Natasha Pickowicz, Flora Bar, NYC
- Ricardo "Ricchi" Sanchez, Bullion, Dallas
- Emily Spurlin, Lula Cafe, Chicago
- Krystle Swenson, Crawford and Son, Raleigh, NC
- Katherine Thompson, Thompson Italian, Falls Church, VA
- Miro Uskokovic, Gramercy Tavern, NYC
- Country Velador, Super Chunk Sweets & Treats, Scottsdale, AZ
