Esteemed culinary arts nonprofit the James Beard Foundation announced on Wednesday the semifinalists for its annual Restaurant and Chef Awards, and four Nashvillians were among those long-listed.
It shouldn’t come as any surprise that Kisser is among the Beard Foundation’s 30 nominees for Best New Restaurant. The East Nashville lunch spot has received a slew of accolades since it made the move from pop-up to brick-and-mortar in March. Recently glowingly reviewed by our own Dana Kopp Franklin, Leina Horii and Brian Lea’s Japanese-inspired outpost was named one of the 50 best restaurants in America by The New York Times in September, and won the Scene’s writers’ choice for Best New Restaurant less than a month later.
Meanwhile, two beloved locals are being considered in Beard’s carefully watched Best Chef: Southeast category, which considers candidates from Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee. Locust’s Trevor Moran is nominated in the category for the second year in a row, with celebrated longtime restaurateur and chef Arnold Myint of International Market on the short list as well. Irish native Moran, formerly of The Catbird Seat, has received wide praise since opening Locust in 2020 — the restaurant was named Restaurant of the Year by Food & Wine in 2022. Myint, along with his sister Anna, has continued his parents’ legacy with his new iteration of Belmont-area staple International Market.
And finally, among Beard’s list of 20 Outstanding Bakery contenders is D’Andrews Bakery & Cafe. Our own Chris Chamberlain has sung the downtown outpost’s praises on more than one occasion, highlighting owner David Andrews’ double chocolate dulcey cookie and prosciutto-and-ricotta twist, among other delicacies.
The James Beard Foundation will announce its nominees April 3, with a winners’ ceremony slated for June 10 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
