Nashville Wine Bar Bad Idea Is Among the James Beard Awards Semifinalists
Buzzy wine bar Bad Idea, chef Julio Hernandez and others are among the Nashville-based semi-finalists for the James Beard Awards, recognizing excellence in the food and hospitality industry.
Bad Idea was among the semifinalists for the competitive category of Best New Restaurant, recognizing debuts across the country. In the Best Chef Southeast category, three Nashville restaurants were mentioned, including Maiz de la Vida’s Hernandez, Peninsula’s Jake Howell, and Dung “Junior” Vo of Noko.
Additionally, Benjamin Goldberg, Max Goldberg, and Josh Habiger of Strategic Hospitality (behind such locations as Bastion, Locust and Kisser) got nods in the Outstanding Restaurateur category.
This longer list will get whittled down to a list of finalists that the organization will announce on April 2. The winners will be feted in a ceremony in Chicago scheduled for June 16.
Elsewhere in Tennessee, 17 Berkshire of Memphis made the long list for Outstanding Bakery, while Memphis-based chefs from Acre, Andrew Adams and Wally Joe, along with Germantown’s Drew Ryan of Blue Honey Bistro, got nods.
Last year, there was a slate of Nashville-based semifinalists, among them Trevor Moran of Locust and Arnold Myint from International Market, but only Japanese restaurant Kisser made it to the finalist round for best new restaurant (the award ultimately went to Dakar in New Orleans).
Disclosure: Some Vox Media staff members are part of the voting body for the James Beard Awards.
