The Garden State was once again well-represented when the semifinalists were announced Wednesday for one of the most prestigious awards in food.
While no New Jersey chefs or restaurants were nominated for the national James Beard Awards, two of the state’s most revered culinary stars took home regional nominations. Dan Richer of Razza Pizza Artigianale and David Viana of Lita were both named semifinalists in the Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic category — a region that encompasses Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Richer has become one the country’s authorities on pizza for his work at Jersey City’s Razza Pizza Artigianale. His Neapolitan pies have been called the best in New York by The New York Times and among the best in the world by Italian website 50 Top Pizza.
Viana rose to fame on TV’s “Top Chef” and has since opened several of New Jersey’s most impressive eateries. The Elizabeth native was nominated for Lita, the modern Iberian restaurant in Aberdeen that last year was named a semifinalist for the national best new restaurant award by the same body.
Viana also owns Heirloom Kitchen in Old Bridge, as well as Heirloom at The St. Laurent in Asbury Park. The latter recently announced it was rebranding as Judy & Harry’s, an Italian restaurant “with a whimsical, international flair.”
Both Richer and Viana have been semifinalists for James Beard Awards multiple times in the past, but have never won. Finalists will be announced April 2, and winners will be crowned June 16 at an award ceremony in Chicago.
There have been 11 James Beard Award-winning chefs and restaurants in New Jersey. Most recently, Corrine’s Place in Camden won an American Classics award in 2022, an honor given “to locally owned restaurants that have timeless appeal and are beloved regionally for quality food that reflects the character of its community.”
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Stories by Jeremy Schneider
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Jeremy Schneider may be reached at jschneider@njadvancemedia.com and followed on Twitter at @J_Schneider and on Instagram at @JeremyIsHungryAgain.