The
James Beard Foundation just released the
semifinalists (link PDF) for its annual awards honoring the nation's best restaurants, chefs and other food and drink professionals. St. Louis scored two semifinalists in the "Best Chef - Midwest" category:
Gerard Craft of
Niche,
Taste by Niche and
Brasserie by Niche and
Josh Galliano of
Monarch. Craft and Galliano were semifinalists last year as well, and Craft was one of the five finalists.
The finalists will be announced next month, and the winners will be named at a New York City gala on Monday, May 3.