CLEVELAND — A trio of chefs at Cleveland's Larder Delicatessen & Bakery are receiving some national attention.
On Wednesday, the James Beard Foundation announced that Allie La Valle-Umansky, Jeremy Umansky, and Kenny Scott have been named semifinalists for the 2020 Best Chef in Great Lakes category.
"Oh my science! We are beyond grateful to our #Cleveland community, all of our colleagues, and to the James Beard Foundation for nominating us for Best Chef Great Lakes! Thank you to everyone who enjoys our food! Mazel tov to all the nominees for the 2020 #jamesbeard awards! You all kick ass," the restaurant wrote on Facebook after the news of their nomination was released.
Here are the rest of the nominees in the category:
- James Anderson, Ray Ray's Hog Pit, Columbus, OH
- Abra Berens, Granor Farm, Three Oaks, MI
- Thai Dang, HaiSous, Chicago
- Brian Jupiter, Frontier, Chicago
- Gene Kato, Momotaro, Chicago
- Ji Hye Kim, Miss Kim, Ann Arbor, MI
- Jason Hammel, Lula Cafe, Chicago
- Andy Hollyday, Selden Standard, Detroit
- Allie La Valle-Umansky, Jeremy Umansky, and Kenny Scott, Larder Delicatessen & Bakery, Cleveland
- Abbi Merriss, Bluebeard, Indianapolis
- Ethan Pikas, Cellar Door Provisions, Chicago
- Noah Sandoval, Oriole, Chicago
- Ryan Santos, Please, Cincinnati
- John Shields and Karen Urie Shields, Smyth, Chicago
- James Rigato, Mabel Gray, Hazel Park, MI
- Mike Ransom, Ima, Detroit
- Mariya Russell, Kikkō, Chicago
- Sarah Welch, Marrow, Detroit
- Erick Williams, Virtue, Chicago
- Lee Wolen, Boka, Chicago
Finalists will be announced on Wednesday, March 25 at 9:00 a.m.
The 2020 James Beard Awards Gala will take place on Monday, May 4 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. This year marks the 30th anniversary of America’s most coveted and comprehensive honors for chefs, restaurants, journalists, authors, and other leaders in the food and beverage industry.
Larder was a nominee for the 2019 James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant.