2008 James Beard Awards

Congratulations to the following chefs for their nomination for the 2008 James Beard Award for Best Chef Great Lakes:

BEST CHEF: GREAT LAKES (IL, IN, MI, OH)

Graham Elliot Bowles
Avenues
Chicago

Carrie Nahabedian
Naha
Chicago

Bruce Sherman
North Pond
Chicago

Michael Symon
Lola
Cleveland

Alex Young
Zingerman's Roadhouse
Ann Arbor, MI

This is what I was able to find online for the rest of them so far- the rest will be out in a bit:

Outstanding Restaurant: Boulevard (Chef/Owner: Nancy Oakes, Owner: Pat Kuleto, San Francisco, CA); Campanile (Chef/Owner: Mark Peel, Los Angeles, CA); Gramercy Tavern (Owner: Danny Meyer, New York, NY); Jean Georges (Chef/Owner: Jean-Georges Vongerichten, New York, NY); The Slanted Door (Chef/Owner: Charles Phan, San Francisco, CA).

Official jpschust prediction: Difficult category, but I think Jean Georges.

Outstanding Chef: Grant Achatz (Alinea, Chicago, IL); Jose Andres (Minibar, Washington, DC); Dan Barber (Blue Hill, New York, NY); Suzanne Goin (Lucques, Los Angeles, CA); Frank Stitt (Highlands Bar & Grill, Birmingham, AL).

Official jpschust prediction: Grant Achatz with Andres as a close second.

Rising Star Chef: Nate Appleman (A 16, San Francisco, CA); Sean Brock (McCrady's, Charleston, SC); Gavin Kaysen (Cafe Boulud, New York, NY); Johnny Monis (Komi, Washington, DC); Matt Molina (Osteria Mozza, Los Angeles, CA); Gabriel Rucker (Le Pigeon, Portland, OR).

Official jpschust prediction: Johnny Monis, no one else is even close.

Best New Restaurant: Anthos (Chef/Owner: Michael Psilakis, Owner: Donatella Arpaia, New York, NY); Central Michel Richard (Chef/Owner: Michel Richard, Washington, DC); Fearing's at the Ritz-Carlton (Chef/Owner: Dean Fearing, Dallas, TX); Osteria Mozza (Chef: Matt Molina; Owners: Nancy Silverton, Mario Batali, Joseph Bastianich, Los Angeles, CA); Osteria (Chef/Owners: Marc Vetri, Jeff Michaud, Owner: Jeff Benjamin, Philadelphia, PA).

Official jpschust prediction: I really wish it would be Central Michel Richard, but I think it's going to be Osteria in Philadelphia.

my friend noted that Dan Barber is a co-chair chef for the 08 gala reception and was also nominated for outstanding 08.

http://jbfawards.com/content/our-chefs

do they choose the gala chefs for 08 far in advance of nominating? is this overlap a common event? does being co-chair mean they have any sort of influence over the nomination process?

forgive my ignorance.