Meet the James Beard Foundation Awards Nominees from Las Vegas

The James Beard Foundation, which organizes one of the country’s most watched restaurant accolades, just announced award semifinalists for 2018. The long list of nominees gets culled down on March 14 into semifinalists, but this list certainly showcases which restaurants and chefs captured attention nationally. The final winners will be announced in Chicago in May.

Here’s the who made semifinalist list in Las Vegas. Click here for the full national one.

Lotus of Siam may have met with water damage to its restaurant in the Commercial Center back in September, but plans to rebuild. The Thai restaurant, which opened a location on Flamingo Road in December, earned a nomination for Outstanding Wine Program. Owner and chef Saipin won a Best Chef: Southwest in 2011 for her northern Thai fare.

Sheridan Su, who has Flock & Fowl with its Hainanese chicken menu on Sahara Avenue and newly opened at the Ogden in Downtown Las Vegas, earned a Best Chef West nomination. Su also has Fat Choy at the Eureka Casino.

Restaurants with Las Vegas ties that earned nods include Jaleo in Washington, D.C., from José Andrés for Outstanding Restaurant. He has Jaleo at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, along with China Poblano and Bazaar Meat in Vegas. David Chang’s Momofuku Noodle Bar in New York City also earned a nomination for Outstanding Restaurant. He has Momofuku at the Cosmopolitan.

Paul Bartolotta and Joe Bartolotta of The Bartolotta Restaurants in Milwaukee were nominated for Outstanding Restaurateur. Bartolotta had a restaurant at Wynn Las Vegas. Costa di Mare now sits in its place.

Perennial nominee Sam Fox of Fox Restaurant Concepts in Phoenix also was nominated for Outstanding Restaurateur. He has Culinary Dropout at the Hard Rock Hotel and North Italia on the west side of Las Vegas. Soon, he’ll open Flower Child in the same Rampart Commons location.

Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak in Washington, D.C., earned a nomination for Outstanding Wine Program. He has four restaurants in Las Vegas.

• All Awards Season Coverage [ELV]