These are Colorado chefs and restaurants named 2023 James Beard semifinalists

Chef Bo Porytko, who owns Misfit Snack Bar photographed upcoming concept called Molotov Kitschen + Cocktails in Denver, Colorado on Friday, October 28, 2022. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

By Lily O'Neill | The Denver Post

PUBLISHED: January 25, 2023 at 10:39 AM MST | UPDATED: January 25, 2023 at 11:09 AM MST

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The James Beard Foundation released its list of today. Considered the Oscars of the food world, the awards honor chefs, restaurants, bar and wine programs, beer and spirits producers and more players on the national food scene.

Colorado snagged 13 nominations this year for what��ap widely regarded as one of the most prestigious honors in the hospitality industry, including in categories such as “outstanding restaurateur,” “outstanding chef” and “best new restaurant.” Five of the 20 chefs nominated as the best in the Mountain Region — which includes Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Wyoming — are from the Centennial State. The finalists will be announced in March.

Here’s the list of the Colorado semifinalists, who have a chance to make it to the final round of nominees before the annual James Beard Awards Gala in June in Chicago:

Chef/owner Kelly Whitaker at The Wolf's Tailor on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post) — Owner Kelly Whitaker is pictured at The Wolf's Tailor on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

Outstanding Restaurateur

Kelly Whitaker, Id Est Hospitality Group (Basta, The Wolf’s Tailor, ��鱫��Ø), Boulder, CO

DENVER, CO - APRIL 28 : Dana Rodriguez talks the new Mezcal brand, Doa Loca at Work & Class, homestyle Southern & Latin American cuisine restaurant, in Denver, Colorado on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

Outstanding Chef

Josh Niernberg, , Grand Junction, CO

Dana Rodriguez, Super Mega Bien, Denver, CO

Emerging Chef

Bo Porytko, Misfit SnackBar, Denver, CO

The Friar's Fork, an Italian restaurant and cocktail bar, opened in Alamosa in July 2022 in the former historic St. Thomas Episcopal Church. (Provided by The Friar's Fork)

Best New Restaurant

, Alamosa, CO

(Photo by AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)
Fresh bread loaves at Reunion Bread Co, on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019. Reunion was recently honored as one of the top 50 new restaurants in the country by Bon Appetit magazine.

Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker

Ismael de Sousa, Reunion Bread Co, Denver, CO

Roasted chicken at ��ê�� Restaurant in Palisade. (Provided by Ashley Chasseur) — Roasted chicken at Pêche Restaurant in Palisade. (Provided by Ashley Chasseur)

Outstanding Hospitality

��ê��., Palisade, CO

Diners eating brunch at Sunday Vinyl, ... — M.Thurk Photography, Provided by Sunday Vinyl
Diners eating brunch at Sunday Vinyl, located by the train platform at Union Station. (M.Thurk Photography, Provided by Sunday Vinyl)

Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program

Sunday Vinyl, Denver, CO

Owner Jose Avila greets passersby as ... — AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
Owner Jose Avila greets passersby as cook Chuy Garcia mans the meat for tacos al pastor at La Diabla Pozolería y Mezcalería on Weds., Dec. 22, 2021. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

Best Chef: Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY)

Jose Avila, La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal, Denver, CO
Michael Diaz de Leon, ��鱫��Ø, Denver, CO
C. Barclay Dodge, , Aspen, CO
Cindhura Reddy, Spuntino, Denver, CO
Penelope Wong, Yuan Wonton, Denver, CO

Last year, six Colorado restaurants and chefs advanced as finalists for the James Beard Foundation’s prestigious Restaurant and Chef Awards. And ultimately, chef and Annette co-owner Caroline Glover was awarded the title of Best Chef in the Mountain Region.

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Colorado chefs, restaurants snag 13 James Beard Award semifinalist spots