James Beard Awards: Nominations Are Open and You Can Vote

The nomination process is open for the 2012 James Beard Awards and everyone, including non-members can vote for their favorites.

There are 21 categories, including Best Chef: South (which includes Florida), Outstanding Pastry Chef, Outstanding Bar Program, and Outstanding Wine Program.

Registration is required to nominate a chef or restaurant in all

categories. After registration, voters will be asked to choose a

category. A list of previous winners for the past five years in each

chosen category will pop-up, reminding voters that past winners are

ineligible. Other than that — it’s a free-for-all.

Nominations

close December 31 at 11:59 p.m. and each voter is only allowed to

submit one nomination for the same person or restaurant in each

category.

Semifinalists will be announced mid-February and nominees will be

announced and notified via e-mail on March 19, 2012. Winners will be

announced May 7, 2012. Find the complete rules here.

Let’s bring home the Beards for Miami! Register and vote here.

The full list of categories are:

Outstanding Restaurateur
Best Chef: Pacific (CA, HI)
Best Chef: Northwest (AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY)
Best Chef: Southwest (AZ, CO, NM, NV, OK, TX, UT)

Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI)
Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)

Best Chef: South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS)

Best Chef: Southeat (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)

Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)

Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, NY State, RI, VT)

Best Chef: (the five boroughs)

Outstanding Pastry Chef
Rising Star Chef of the Year
Outstanding Chef
Outstanding restaurant
Outstanding Service
Outstanding Wine Program
Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional
Best New Restaurant
America’s Classics
Outstanding Bar Program

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