The list of Restaurant and Chef semifinalists for the 2010 James Beard Foundation Awards has been released. The Beard awards are the nation's most prestigious recognition program honoring professionals in the food and beverage industries. Michigan has an impressive five chefs in the running for Best Chef: Great Lakes:

Myles Anton, Trattoria Stella, Traverse City, MI
Randy Chamberlain, Blu, Glen Arbor, MI
Guillaume Hazaël-Massieux, La Bécasse, Maple City, MI
Brian Polcyn, Forest Grill, Birmingham, MI
Alex Young, Zingerman's Roadhouse, Ann Arbor, MI

Michigan also notched nominations for Outstanding Wine & Spirits Professional (Larry Bell of Bell's Brewery in Kalamazoo) and Outstanding Service (Aerie Restaurant & Lounge in Traverse City).

On March 22 the final nominees will be announced live at twitter.com/beardfoundation, with the final award ceremony taking place on May 3, 2010 in New York City.

Established in 1990, the James Beard Foundation Awards recognize culinary professionals for excellence and achievement in their fields and continue to emphasize the Foundation's mission: to celebrate, preserve, and nurture America's culinary heritage and diversity. The annual James Beard Foundation Awards honor the best and the brightest talents in the food and beverage industries, celebrating outstanding achievement in each of the following categories: Restaurant and Chef, Restaurant Design and Graphics, Books, Journalism, Broadcast Media, and special achievement awards. Each category has an individual Awards Committee made up of industry professionals who volunteer their time to oversee the policies, procedures, and selection of judges for their respective Awards program.

Photo by Gary L Howe, courtesy La Becasse