Who Was Nominated for JBF Awards from Las Vegas?

The James Beard Foundation dropped its long list of award nominees today with two restaurants based in Las Vegas making the cut.

L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon at the MGM Grand earned a nomination for Outstanding Restaurant. JBF describes this as a “restaurant in the United States that serves as a national standard bearer of consistent quality and excellence in food, atmosphere and service. Must have been in operation 10 or more consecutive years.” Executive chef Steve Benjamin opened L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon in Paris and 2003 and then moved to Las Vegas in 2005 to open L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand as executive chef.

Lotus of Siam, the Thai restaurant in the Commercial Center from Saipin Chutima, was nominated for Outstanding Wine Program. Chutima won Best Chef: Southwest in 2011 after nominations in 2008 and 2010.

Sam Fox, who has Culinary Dropout at the Hard Rock Hotel, earned an Outstanding Restaurateur nomination.

No Las Vegas chefs were nominated for Best Chef: West. Go figure.

For the full list of semi-finalists, head over to Eater.