Some Baltimore chefs and restaurants on Wednesday were named as semifinalists for the 2022 James Beard Awards, which recognize the work of leaders in the culinary industry across the United States.
The semifinalists list includes both seasoned restaurant vets and relative newcomers who are fresher to the industry.
Chef Cindy Wolf was named a semifinalist in the “Outstanding Chef” category for her work at the Charleston fine dining restaurant in Harbor East, which she opened with restaurateur Tony Foreman in 1997.
The Foreman Wolf restaurant group oversees an array of dining establishments across the Baltimore area, including Petit Louis Bistro and Johnny’s in Roland Park; Cindy Lou’s Fish House, which opened in 2020 at the Canopy by Hilton Baltimore Harbor Point; Cinghiale in Harbor East; and the historic Milton Inn, which closed under previous ownership in 2020 and was reopened by Foreman Wolf in 2021.
Chef Peter Chang is also a semifinalist for “Outstanding Chef” for his properties in Maryland and Virginia.
Among Chang’s establishments is NiHao, a contemporary Chinese restaurant which opened in Canton in 2020, which was also recognized as a semifinalist for “Best New Restaurant.”
Chef Carlos Raba of Clavel Mezcaleria is a semifinalist in the “Best Chef” category for the Mid-Atlantic region, including Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey.
“We are so proud to see our Chef Carlos Raba on this list representing BALTIMORE!” Clavel posted on Instagram.
“Gracias [James Beard Foundation] for acknowledging his talent and hard work and to our entire team at Clavel for their support and dedication to the craft,” the restaurant added.
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In addition to being the co-owner and chef of the taqueria and mezcaleria in Remington, Raba also runs a Brazilian jiu-jitsu and yoga studio, Guardian Baltimore, right around the corner from the restaurant.
Raba is also planning to open his first Baltimore County restaurant, Nana, at the intersection of York Road and Regester Avenue this year.
This isn’t the first time the James Beard Foundation is recognizing some of this year’s Baltimore-area semifinalists.
Wolf was a 2009 James Beard winner in the “Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America” category, and she has racked up nine nominations and 13 semifinalist recognitions since 2006.
Chang was a “Best Chef” semifinalist in 2015 and 2020, and a nominee in that same category in 2016.
Clavel was a semifinalist in the “Outstanding Bar Program” category in 2019 and 2020, but this is Raba’s first time being singled out individually.
Restaurant and chef award nominees will be revealed on march 16. Winners will be recognized on June 13 at a ceremony at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
CONGRATULATIONS! TO ALL THE SEMIFINALISTS