James Beard Awards Await

Roughly the dining out equivalent of The Academy Awards, The James Beard Foundation annual awards ceremony takes place Monday, May 7, at the Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City. Go to www.jamesbeard.org for the complete list, but here's a partial list of national nominees:

-- Outstanding Restaurant: Boulevard, San Francisco; Frontera Grill, Chicago; Magnolia Grill, Durham, N.C., Picholine, New York; Spiaggia, Chicago.
-- Best New Restaurant: A Voce, New York City; Chochon, New Orleans; Cut, Beverly Hill, Calif; L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, New York City; Momofuku Ssam Bar, New York City; Restaurant Guy Savoy, Las Vegas.
-- Outstanding Restaurateur: Thomas Keller, The French Laundry, Yountville, Calif; Keith McNally, Balthazar, New York City; Richard Melman, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises (R.J. Grunts, Wildfire, Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!), Chicago; Drew Nieporent, Myriad Restaurant Group (Tribeca Grill, Nobu, Rubicon), New York City; Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Jean Georges restaurant, New York City.
-- Outstanding Chef: Tom Colicchio, Craft, New York City; Lee Hefter, Spago, Beverly Hills, Calif.; Jean Joho, Everest, Chicago; Paul Kahan, Blackbird, Chicago; Michel Richard, Michel Richard Citronelle, Washington, D.C.
-- Rising Star Chef: Nate Appleman, A16, San Francisco; Graham Elliot Bowles, Avenues at The Peninsula Hotel, Philadelphia; David Chang, Momofuku Noodle Bar, New York; Patrick Connelly, Radius, Boston; Daniel Humm, Eleven Madison Park, New York City.

Restaurant magazine just released its list of the world's top 100 restaurants. (http://www.theworlds50best.com/2007_list.html) Here are the U.S. entries:

The French Laundry, Yountville, Ca. (No. 4)
Per Se, New York City (No. 9)
Jean Georges, New York City (No. 18)
Le Bernardin, New York City (No. 26)
Charlie Trotter's, Chicago (No. 30)
Daniel, New York City (No. 32)
Alinea, Chicago (No. 36)
Chez Panisse, Berkeley, Ca. (No. 40)
Masa, New York City (No. 56)
L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon at the Four Seasons, New York City (No. 64)
Peter Lugar, Brooklyn, NY (No. 69)
Nobu New York, New York City (No. 89)
Gramercy Tavern, New York city (No. 90)
WD-50, New York City (No. 91)
Zuni Café, San Francisco (No. 98)
Alex at Wynn, Las Vegas (No. 100)

IN THE NEWS: The Salt Lake Tribune's Mary Brown Malouf gives one and a half stars to the Middle Eastern restaurant Cedars of Lebanon, 152 E. 200 South, Salt Lake City. Malouf also reports The Mayan Restaurant at 9400 S. State, in Sandy's Jordan Commons, has temporarily closed and will reopen later this spring with a revised name and a new chef and menu. When it reopens, the Mayan Adventure will serve Mexican and American entrées. www.sltrib.com. ... Deseret Morning News critic Stacey Kratz awards two and a half stars to Lanikai Grill Hawaiian Bar-B-Que, 1072 W. 10600 South, South Jordan. Prompted by a recent experience dining out with kids, Kratz also asks for reader input, specifically: "Singles and couples, what's hardest for you about dining out near families? Parents, what do you do to keep your kids in line and teach them a few social skills while dining out? Restaurants, what are your training and policies with regard to seating and serving families? And what can we all do to make dining out better for everyone? Please let me know at skratz@desnews.com." www.deseretnews.com ... The Weekly's Ted Scheffler reviews a trio of Thai joints: Sawadee Thai Restaurant, 754 E. South Temple; Thai Lotus, 212 E. 500 South; and Thai Orchid, 6219 S. Highland Drive. www.slweekly.com ... In case you missed them, here are the winners of the recent Salt Lake magazine's 10th annual dining awards:

Brunch in Salt Lake City: Grand America
Brunch outside Salt Lake City: Blue Boar Inn, Midway
Quick Eats: Siegfried's Delicatessen
Power Lunch: Bambara
Brew Pub: Squatter's
Chinese: Little World
Mexican: Red Iguana
Indian: Royal India
New American: Bambara
Japanese: Takashi
Italian: Lugano
Middle Eastern: Mazza
Ambience: Log Haven
Southeast Asian: Thai Garden
Reader's Choice: Jean Louis, Park City
Service: Chez Betty, Park City
Comfort Food: Q4U
Undiscovered: Reef's Kitchen, Kimball Junction
New Restaurant: Pine
Food Evangelist: Stephen Rosenberg, Liberty Heights Fresh
Community Award: Utah Food Bank
Wine List: Keith Chan of Monsoon Thai and Bangkok Thai on Main, Park City
Pastry Chef: Romina Rasmussen of Les Madeleines
Chef: Franck Peissel of Franck's
Lifetime Achievement: Tony Caputo
Golden Spoon for Hospitality: Snake Creek Grill, Heber
Southern Utah: Hell's Backbone Grill, Boulder
Northern Utah: Earl's Lodge at Snow Basin
Canyons: Log Haven
Park City: 350 Main Brasserie, Park City
Salt Lake City: Takashi