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Four Chefs and Two Restaurants in Cincinnati Are Semifinalists for the 2023 James Beard Awards

The nominees will be announced on March 29 and winners will be celebrated at an awards ceremony in June.

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Mita's in Downtown Cincinnati is a semifinalist in the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards' category for Outstanding Restaurant. - Photo: facebook.com/Mita's Cincinnati
Photo: facebook.com/Mita's Cincinnati
Mita's in Downtown Cincinnati is a semifinalist in the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards' category for Outstanding Restaurant.

Four Cincinnati chefs and two Cincinnati restaurants were announced as semifinalists for the prestigious 2023 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards on Wednesday, Jan. 25.

“Congratulations to all our 2023 James Beard Award Semifinalists! This is always an exhilarating moment as we kick off the Awards cycle and recognize the outstanding achievements of individuals and teams across the country,” Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation, said in a press release.

The Restaurant and Chef Awards are one of five of the James Beard Foundation’s recognition programs. Semifinalists in this program are recognized across 23 categories, four of which Cincinnati restaurants and chefs are being represented in.

Up for nomination in the category of Outstanding Restaurant is Mita’s in Downtown Cincinnati. This category looks for a restaurant that “demonstrates consistent excellence in food, atmosphere, hospitality, and operations, while contributing positively to its broader community," according to the foundation. Owned by James Beard-nominated chef Jose Salazar, Mita’s menu focuses on Spanish- and Latin-American-inspired cuisine and tapas.

Nolia in Over-the-Rhine, which serves up twists on classic Southern flavors, was nominated for Best New Restaurant. In order to be considered for this category, the restaurant had to have opened between Jan. 1-Sept. 30, 2022 and should already be demonstrating excellence in its cuisine, as well as in hospitality and operations. The restaurant should also be making an impact on the community.

As for Cincinnati chefs, Elaine Uykimpang Bentz (formerly Townsend) at Cafe Mochiko in East Walnut Hills is up for consideration in the Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker category. Uykimpang Bentz was also nominated for the Outstanding Baker category in 2022.

And Chef Francisco Alfaro from Mid City Restaurant in Downtown Cincinnati and chefs Hideki and Yuko Harada (who are semifinalists together) from Kiki in College Hill are up for nomination in the category of Best Chef in the Great Lakes region (IL, IN, MI, OH). Chefs in this category “set high standards in their culinary skills and leadership abilities” and are “making efforts to help create a sustainable work culture in their respective regions while contributing positively to their broader community.”

Nominees will be announced on Wednesday, March 29, and the winners will be celebrated at an awards ceremony on Monday, June 5 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Slideshow

These are Some of Greater Cincinnati's Most Beautiful Bars and Restaurants

Wódka Bar1200 Main St., Over-the-Rhinefrom the team behind cult-favorite Babushka Pierogies, Wódka Bar carries an ambitious selection of vodkas, stocking over 50 types, including Polish and Ukrainian brands that are lesser known in the United States. It also offers a streamlined Eastern European-inspired menu of bites ranging from pierogies to a Polish sausage platter or stuffed cabbage roll. Inside the intimate space, patrons will be enveloped by deep Prussian blues and rich golds, luxe velvet upholstery and distressed plaster walls, elegant wood paneling and all the intricacies of Eastern Orthodox architecture.
Somm Wine Bar3105 Price Ave., East Price HillFood and wine are perfectly paired at Somm, and the outdoor patio with its fountain, Edison-bulb string lights, fire table and meticulous landscaping is the perfect spot to enjoy them. This Incline District wine bar and restaurant has over 80 kinds of wine to choose from and a menu ranging from charcuterie boards to the Somm burger to filet mignon. Alice1432 Main St., Over-the-RhineThis colorful cocktail bar doesn’t take its name or inspiration from the one of Wonderland fame, but the spot is just as charming and beguiling. Located in an old garage warehouse, Alice stands apart from the other bar options in the area with colorful industrial vibes and clever cocktails like the Smoke and Mirrors (tequila, house sour, lime and pepper tincture) or the Dinner Party (vodka, green tea, ginger, orange, lemon and bitters). Nostalgia Wine & Jazz Lounge1432 Vine St., Over-the-RhineThis intimate, 1940s-inspired lounge has the perfect ambiance for a romantic night out or even just a solo date. Nostalgia Wine & Jazz Lounge offers an inclusive approach to wine culture, focusing on minority and women winemakers and producers. They offer 40 wines available by the glass or bottle, including eight on tap, and curated flights, cocktails, spirits and charcuterie boards – the best combination to nosh on while listening to live jazz, soul, hip-hop and R&B music. Alcove1410 Vine St., Over-the-RhineStuffed with live greenery from Urban Blooms and living feature walls, Alcove creates a secret-garden-like feeling. Designers also focused on integrating the rich history of the building into its design. Old photos and news clippings sit framed along the walls, telling a story of a building that has seen many lives since its construction in 1873. The space also features a "lush outdoor patio space for lounging and dining,” and in the event loft on the third floor, there's even a massive chandelier made of ferns. Their drink menu also features housemade cocktails utilizing herbs grown in Alcove's greenhouse bar and MadTree’s own brews. Son of a Butcher Steakhouse7630 Gibson St. STE 110, Liberty TownshipWith an aesthetic and design described as “Alice-in-Wonderland-meets-Baroque,” it’s no wonder Yelp said Son of a Butcher Steakhouse, a.k.a. S.O.B., was one of the five most-photographed places in Cincinnati in 2022. The food, with menu items like USDA Prime cuts, wagyu, caviar and shaved truffles, also photographs like a delicious dream. Wódka Bar1200 Main St., Over-the-Rhinefrom the team behind cult-favorite Babushka Pierogies, Wódka Bar carries an ambitious selection of vodkas, stocking over 50 types, including Polish and Ukrainian brands that are lesser known in the United States. It also offers a streamlined Eastern European-inspired menu of bites ranging from pierogies to a Polish sausage platter or stuffed cabbage roll. Inside the intimate space, patrons will be enveloped by deep Prussian blues and rich golds, luxe velvet upholstery and distressed plaster walls, elegant wood paneling and all the intricacies of Eastern Orthodox architecture.
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