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The 2025 list of semifinalists for the James Beard Awards was just released. There are 10 semifinal nominees from Maine:
- Outstanding Restaurant – Havana in Bar Harbor.
- Emerging Chef – Jason Eckerson and Kate Hamm from Fish & Whistle in Biddeford.
- Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker – Brant Dadaleares from Gross Confection Bar.
- Outstanding Hospitality – Taj Indian Cuisine in South Portland.
- Best New Bar – The Abbey in Brunswick.
- Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service – Mary Allen Lindemann from Coffee By Design.
- Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service – Nathaniel Meiklejohn from The Jewel Box.
- Best Chef: Northeast – Lee Frank from Lee Frank’s in South Berwick and Wells, Jordan Rubin from Mr Tuna, and Jake Stevens from Leeward.
Elsewhere in New England there were 8 semifinalists from Rhode Island, 4 from Vermont, 12 from Massachusetts, 3 from Connecticut and 2 from New Hampshire.
The final list of nominees (10 for Best New Restaurant and 5 for all other categories) will be released April 2nd, and the awards ceremony will take place on Monday, June 16th in Chicago. The America’s Classics award winners will be announced February 26th.
Related information:
- Maine Award Winners, Nominees and Semifinalists – a complete list of Maine award winners, nominees and semifinalists from 2008 to 2025.
- Award and Nomination Process – the award nominations process.
- Award Categories – the 2025 list of categories and eligibility requirements.
- James Beard in Portland – James Beard taught a set cooking classes in Portland in 1964.