Here Are Portland’s 2020 James Beard Awards Semifinalists

The James Beard Foundation released its list of semifinalists for its celebrated culinary awards this morning, with a healthy dose of Portland talent in national categories. Notably, the prestigious culinary organization named for a former Oregon resident included Eem and Gado Gado in the Best New Restaurant category, the multi-James Beard winner Gabriel Rucker in the Outstanding Chef category, and Vietnamese restaurant Ha VL in the Outstanding Restaurant category.

Many semifinalists from last year’s list have returned to the pool in 2020: Kim Boyce of Bakeshop nabbed another semifinalist spot in the Outstanding Baker category, and Earl Ninsom was again listed as a semifinalist for the Best Restaurateur category. However, a few new additions made the list this year: Naoko Tamura of Shizuku and Chef Naoko is a semifinalist in the newly redistricted Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific category. Plus, Ha VL has jumped from the local categories into the national category, as the only Portland restaurant on the Outstanding Restaurant list.

Below, you’ll find a full breakdown of the Oregon semifinalists:

Best New Restaurant

Eem
Gado Gado

Outstanding Baker

Kim Boyce, Bakeshop

Outstanding Bar Program

Expatriate

Outstanding Chef

Gabriel Rucker, Le Pigeon

Outstanding Restaurant

Ha VL

Outstanding Restaurateur

Akkapong Earl Ninsom (Eem, Hat Yai, Langbaan, etc.)

Outstanding Wine Program

Canard

Outstanding Wine, Beer, or Spirits Producer

Brianne Day, Day Wines, Dundee
André Hueston Mack, Maison Noir Wines, McMinnville

Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific

Peter Cho, Han Oak
Gregory Gourdet, Departure
Katy Millard, Coquine
Sarah Minnick, Lovely’s Fifty Fifty
Kristen Murray, MÅURICE
Ryan Roadhouse, Nodoguro
Naoko Tamura, Shizuku

The organization will release the list of nominees on March 25.

• 2020 James Beard Award Semifinalists [Official]
• Here Are Portland’s 2019 James Beard Awards Semifinalists [EPDX]

Disclosure: Some Vox Media staff members are part of the voting body for the James Beard Awards.