Las Vegas Shut Out from the James Beard Foundation Awards Again

Remember last month when the James Beard Foundation dropped its semifinalists for the 2015 Restaurant and Chef Award categories? Well, the finalists came out today, and once again, Las Vegas restaurants and chefs got the shaft. Zip. Zero. Nada. Nothing.

Eight restaurants and chefs had landed on the long list from the JBF. 

Bazaar Meat by José Andrés at the SLS Las Vegas had earned a nod for Best New Restaurant, one of the highest honors JBF awards. Not on the short list.

Claude Le Tohic at Joël Robuchon was up for Outstanding Chef. He won Best Chef: Southwest in 2010. Not on the list.

Salvatore Martone at L'Atelier Joël Robuchon was up for Best Pastry Chef. Not on the finalist list.

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. Not on the short list, although Michael Mina is for his restaurants, although JBF tucks him into San Francisco.

Joël Robuchon had a nod for Outstanding Service. Not a finalist.

Restaurant Guy Savoy’s Mathieu Chartron had earned a nomination for Rising Star of the Year. Not a finalist.

Perennial nominee Mitsuo Endo of Aburiya Raku was again left off the short list for Best Chef: West.

Spago in Beverly Hills, not Las Vegas, is up for Outstanding Wine Service.
If you care, the 2015 James Beard Awards gala will be held at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on Monday, May 4.

Want to rant about the way the James Beard Foundation treats Las Vegas? Head here.

Want to see the full list of finalists? Head here.