NEW YORK — Nine Maine restaurants and chefs have been named semifinalists for 2019 James Beard Awards.
In 2017, Portland-based Eventide Oyster Co. chefs Andrew Taylor and Mike Wiley won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Northeast.
Melissa Kelly of Primo in Rockland won the award in 2013; as did Arrows chefs Clark Frasier and Mark Gaier of Ogunquit in 2010; Hugo's chef Rob Evans of Portland in 2009; and Fore Street chef Sam Hayward of Portland in 2004.
Here are the 2019 semifinalists from Maine:
Outstanding Baker
- Alison Pray, Standard Baking Co. (Portland)
Outstanding Restaurant
- Fore Street (Portland)
Outstanding Service
- Back Bay Grill (Portland)
Outstanding Wine, Spirits, or Beer Producer
- Rob Tod, Allagash Brewing Company (Portland)
Best Chef: Northeast
- Chad Conley and Greg Mitchell, Palace Diner (Biddeford)
- Krista Kern Desjarlais, The Purple House (North Yarmouth)
- Vien Dobui, Cong Tu Bot (Portland)
- Erin French, The Lost Kitchen (Freedom)
- Keiko Suzuki Steinberger, Suzuki's Sushi Bar (Rockland)
Two chefs in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, were also named semifinalists for the award of "Best Chef: Northeast": Evan Mallett of Black Trumpet and David Vargas of Vida Cantina.
