From the gracious elegance of The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead to the culinary finesse of Bacchanalia and Restaurant Eugene, our local talents have plenty to crow about in 2012. But we also love that some of our more under-the-radar local faves are now bathing in the glow of, say, a national James Beard nom, like cult-fave gastrobpup The Porter in funky Little Five with husband-and-wife proprieters Molly Gunn and Nick Rutherford,  who boast 5-star Seeger’s and also Quinones at Bacchanali on their resumes. Or: the daily line-out-the-door, insanely good Taqueria del Sol. Carry on hospitality peeps and we can’t wait to see what you pull out of your hats for the 2013 awards!

Below the just announced list of Georgia James Beard Award Semi-Finalists, with the Finalist List announced March 19 and final awards revealed May 7. Tune back into LuxeCrush on these days for the final results. We’ve also included the prestigious 2012 list of AAA Four and Five Diamond of hotel and restaurant award-winners for Georgia.

 

GEORGIA JAMES BEARD AWARD 2012 SEMI-FINALISTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best Chef Southeast:

Hugh Acheson, Five and Ten, Athens

Billy Allin, Cakes & Ale, Decatur

Linton Hopkins, Restaurant Eugene, Atlanta

 

Outstanding Restaurateur:

Mike Klank and Eddie Hernandez of Taqueria del Sol, Atlanta

 

Outstanding Pastry Chef:

Aaron Russell, Restaurant Eugene, Atlanta

Cynthia Wong, Empire State South, Atlanta

 

 

Outstanding Bar Program:

Holeman and Finch Public House, Atlanta

The Porter Beer Bar, Atlanta

 

Rising Star Chef of the Year:

Kevin Gillespie, Woodfire Grill, Atlanta

 

Outstanding Bar Program:

Holeman and Finch Public House, Atlanta

The Porter Beer Bar, Atlanta

 

PDF of complete, national list of James Beard Awards Restaurant and Chef Semi-Finalists 2012 here:

http://www.jamesbeard.org/pdfs/2012_JBF_Awards_semi.pdf "> www.jamesbeard.org/pdfs/2012_JBF_Awards_semi.pdf

 

THIS JUST IN:  JAMES BEARD AWARDS 2012 FINALISTS FROM ATLANTA

 

Best Chef Southeast:

Hugh Acheson, Five and Ten, Athens

Linton Hopkins, Restaurant Eugene, Atlanta

 

Best American Cookbook:

Hugh Acheson, A New Turn in the South

 

Final Awards will be announced on May 7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AAA FIVE AND FOUR DIAMOND, GEORGIA, 2012 HOTEL AND RESTAURANT AWARD WINNERS

 

AAA Four Diamond Award restaurant recipients:

·       Aria

·       Atlanta Grill

·       Bacchanalia

·       BLT Steak

·       Canoe

·       Georgia’s Bistro

·       La Grotta Ravinia Ristorante Italiano

·       La Grotta Ristorante Italiano

·       Nan Thai Fine Dining

·       Nikolai’s Roof

·       Paces 88

·       Park 75

·       Restaurant Eugene

 

AAA Five Diamond Award hotel recipients:

·       Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta

·       InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta

·       The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta

·       The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead

·       The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation

·       St. Regis Atlanta Hotel and Residences

 

AAA Four Diamond Award hotel recipients:

·       Grand Hyatt Atlanta

·       JW Marriott Buckhead Atlanta

·       Loews Hotel Atlanta

·       Omni Hotel at CNN Center

·       Renaissance Atlanta Midtown

·       Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel

·       Renaissance Concourse Atlanta Airport Hotel

·       The Westin Buckhead Atlanta

·       W Atlanta Buckhead

·       W Atlanta Downtown

·       W Atlanta Midtown

·       Chateau Elan Winery and Resort

·       The Westin Hotel – Atlanta Airport

·       Marriott Evergreen Conference Resort

·        

For complete national AAA Diamond Awards for 2012:

newsroom.aaa.com/2012/01/aaa-adds-nine-hotels-and-seven-restaurants-to-five-diamond-list-for-2012/