James Beard Foundation Unveils 2009 Awards Nominees

The list of Restaurant and Chef nominees for the 2009 James Beard Foundation Awards, the nation’s most prestigious honors for culinary professionals, has been announced. Selected from thousands of online entries, the prestigious group of semifinalists in the 19 Restaurant and Chef categories represents a wide variety of culinary talent, from legendary chefs and dining destinations in 10 different regions across the United States, to the nation’s best new restaurants and rising star chefs.

The Awards celebrate outstanding achievement in each of the following categories: Restaurants and Chefs, Books, Journalism, Restaurant Design and Graphics, Broadcast Media and special achievement awards.

These are the nominees for the Design and Graphics Awards:

OUTSTANDING RESTAURANT DESIGN

For the best restaurant design or renovation in North America since January 1, 2006

Design Firm: Design Bureaux, Inc.
Designer: Thomas Schlesser
Project: The Publican, Chicago

Design Firm: Design Bureaux, Inc.
Designer: Thomas Schlesser
Project: Bar Boulud, NYC

Design Firm: Starck Network and SBE Design Team
Designers: Philippe Starck, Bruno Barrione, and Theresa Fatino
Project: The Bazaar by José Andrés at SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills, Los Angeles

OUTSTANDING RESTAURANT GRAPHICS

For the best restaurant graphics executed in North America since January 1, 2006

Design Firm: The JNL Graphic Design
Designers: Jason Pickleman and Donald Madia
Project: The Publican, Chicago

Design Firm: Korn Design
Designers: Denise Korn, Javier Cortés, and Bryant Ross
Project: The Corner Office, Denver

Designer: Steven Solomon
Project: Terroir, NYC