Meet the James Beard Foundation Semifinalists From Las Vegas

The James Beard Foundation dropped its semifinalists for the 2015 Restaurant and Chef Award categories today and Las Vegas found itself represented in some of the biggest categories. Eight restaurants and chefs landed on the long list from the JBF.

Bazaar Meat by José Andrés at the SLS Las Vegas earned a nod for Best New Restaurant, one of the highest honors JBF awards.

Claude Le Tohic at Joël Robuchon is up for Outstanding Chef. He won Best Chef: Southwest in 2010.

Salvatore Martone at L'Atelier Joël Robuchon is up for Best Pastry Chef.

Elizabeth Blau of Blau & Associates is a semifinalist for Outstanding Restauranteur for her collection of restaurants including Honey Salt, Made LV and Simon Restaurant & Lounge, as is Michael Mina for his restaurants.

Joël Robuchon gets another nod for Outstanding Service.

Restaurant Guy Savoy wasn’t left off the list, Mathieu Chartron earned a nomination for Rising Star of the Year.

Perennial nominee Mitsuo Endo of Aburiya Raku is again a semi-finalist for Best Chef: West.

Over the next month, this "long list" will be whittled down with the finalists named on Tuesday, March 24. The 2015 James Beard Awards gala will be held at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on Monday, May 4.

For the entire list of nominees, head over to Eater.