This week, the semi-finalist list for the 2025 James Beard Foundation (JBF) Awards was announced, and Utah once again made an impressive showing with eight distinguished semi-finalists. As the JBF describes it, “2025 marks an incredible milestone: the 35th anniversary of the James Beard Awards®. Considered to be among the nation’s most prestigious honors, the James Beard Awards® recognize exceptional talent in the culinary and food media industries, as well as a demonstrated commitment to equity, sustainability, and creating a culture where all can thrive.”
In exciting news, and in honor of the Awards’ milestone anniversary and in acknowledgment of the constantly evolving independent restaurant scene, the 2025 Restaurant and Chef Awards have expanded to spotlight the world of beverages. This year, three new categories debut: Best New Bar, Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service, and Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service, further recognizing excellence in the industry’s dynamic and ever-growing drink culture.
Utah received some solid recognition this year in terms of semi-finalists. While Utah has been oft overlooked in the general categories compared to the major metropolitan areas on the coasts, this year, there are four semi-finalists from our state in the general categories and four in the Mountain region.
Here’s a tip of the glass, a big congratulations to our Utah locals, and a nod to the other talented chefs in our region.
James Beard Award Outstanding Restaurateur
Lavanya Mahate, Saffron Valley Restaurants, Salt Lake City, UT
Outstanding Restauranteur in the James Beard culinary world is like being nominated for best director at the Oscars. And Lavanya has been directing a delicious show at Saffron Valley, starting with her original Avenues location and expanding to the U of U, South Jordan, Sugar House, and Riverton over time. She has always been one to mentor others, give back to the community, and expand her horizons as a restaurateur. Saffron Valley even makes one of our favorite food crushes: Dosas.
Visit: saffronvalley.com
James Beard Award Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker
Adalberto Diaz, Fillings and Emulsions, Salt Lake City, UT
Adalberto Diaz has been feeding our collective craving for sweets for years. “Chef Al” is self-described as a tenacious tornado. Fillings and Emulsions is a Willy Wonka-esque dreamscape (if Willy Wonka made macrons) disguised as a Cuban Pastelería. With perfectly laminated dough, brightly colored pastries, and even a few savory Cubano sandwiches thrown in, we are delighted to see the team here get one more culinary feather in their hat. Read all about Cuban Coffee Culture at Fillings and Emulsions.
Visit: fillingsandemulsions.com
James Beard Award Outstanding Hospitality
Manoli’s, Salt Lake City, UT
At his namesake restaurant, Chef Manoli weaves in and out of the kitchen, the bar, and the dining room with a calm presence that is opposite of blustery TV chefs. In the most basic sense of the word hospitable, warmth and genuine hospitality are effused into everything, “friendly and welcoming to strangers or guests, and a pleasant or favorable environment for living in.” If given the opportunity, we’d all go live at Manoli’s. Manoli’s was also the 2024 Best Restaurant in the Salt Lake Magazine Dining Awards.
Visit: manolison9th.com
James Beard Award Outstanding Bar
Water Witch, Salt Lake City, UT
The witchy boys are at it again. Water Witch is a SL Mag watering hole of choice. We love their quirky, small, warm, and welcoming niche bar. It is intimate without feeling too swanky, with great cocktails that don’t feel pretentious. You can tell the bartender, “I’m feeling like something gin-y and booze-forward with a splash of the tropics,” and you will get a fantastic beverage out of it. Get one of their cocktail recipes here!
Visit: waterwitchbar.com
James Beard Award Best Chef: Mountain From Utah
Mike Blocher and Nick Fahs, Table X, Salt Lake City, UT
Table X Bread was a semi-finalist last year in the bakery category. We were so excited to see the restaurant itself land on the list this year. As one of the most innovative restaurants in Salt Lake City, dining at the X is a whole sensory experience. From the beautiful interior design, stunning pottery, and food that is palate-pushing and unique, this is the perfect place for experiential diners. They were our 2023 Best Restaurant for the dining awards. And make food crushable bread for both the restaurant and the public.
Visit: tablexrestaurant.com
Andrew Fuller, Oquirrh, Salt Lake City, UT
Chef Andrew Fuller in the back of house and Angie Fuller in the front of house are the dynamic duo behind Oquirrh in Salt Lake. The small dining space exudes warmth and neighborliness with a menu that ebbs and flows with the seasons to include local ingredients and Andrew’s current food obsessions. It is a must-stop for the culinary aficionados. They were also our 2023 Outstanding Restaurant of the Year for our dining awards.
Visit: oquirrhslc.com
Matthew Harris, Tupelo Park City, Park City, UT
Matthew Harris at Tupelo is all about the proteins. The menu features elk, pork cheek, and rabbit in bold preparations. His shrimp and grits are some of the best we’ve ever had. Period. The menu is sophisticated, and somehow, it still feels homegrown. Check out their 2024 Cocktail Contest submission.
Visit: tupeloparkcity.com:
Nick Zocco, Urban Hill, Salt Lake City, UT
Urban Hill landed on everyone’s radar in late 2022 when it opened. From there, the accolades for the restaurant and forNick Zocco have piled up, including a nod as a James Beard finalist in 2024. We are so excited to see Nick back in the line-up. Read about our very first visit to Urban Hill.
Visit: urban-hill.com
Best Chef: Mountain From (CO, ID, MT, WY)
Joshua Adams, Campione, Livingston, MT
Salvador Alamilla, Amano, Caldwell, ID
Benjamin Barlow, Stanley Supper Club, Stanley, ID
Erasmo Casiano and Diego Coconati, Lucina Eatery & Bar, Denver, CO
Rémi Courcenet and Nathan Whitley, Terroir, Boise, ID
Brandon Cunningham, The Social Haus, Greenough, MT
Cal Elliott, The Avery, Boise, ID
Linda Huang, Hummingbird’s Kitchen, Bozeman, MT
Porter Koury and Jacob Scott, Sitti’s Table, Cody, WY
Bo Porytko, Molotov Kitschen + Cocktails, Denver, CO
Paul C. Reilly, Coperta, Denver, CO
Hosea Rosenberg, Blackbelly, Boulder, CO
Nick Steen Gullings, Walkers Grill, Billings, MT
Kenneth Wan, MAKfam, Denver, CO
David Wells, The Tasting Room at Chico Hot Springs Resort & Day Spa, Pray, MT
Penelope Wong, Yuan Wonton, Denver, CO
Check out the 2024 James Beard Award Semi-finalists from Utah.
