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Four Cincinnati Chefs Named Semifinalists in 2024 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards

Chefs Jose Salazar, Erik Bentz and Elaine Uykimpang Bentz and Jeffrey Harris are up for nomination in the category of Best Chef in the Great Lakes region.

Jan 24, 2024 at 1:27 pm

From left to right: Erik Bentz and Elaine Uykimpang Bentz of Cafe Mochiko, Jeffrey Harris of Nolia and Jose Salazar of Mita's and Goose & Elder Photos (L-R): Francisco Huerta, Sean M. Peters, Gina Weathersby

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Four Cincinnati chefs have been announced as semifinalists for the prestigious 2024 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards.

The Restaurant and Chef Awards is one of five recognition programs from the James Beard Foundation and one of the most prestigious culinary honors, celebrating excellence in everything from fine dining to casual eateries and emerging talents to established luminaries. Semifinalists in this program are recognized across 22 categories.

Chefs Jose Salazar (Mita’s, Goose & Elder), Erik Bentz and Elaine Uykimpang Bentz (Cafe Mochiko) and Jeffrey Harris (Nolia) 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.”

Esquire Names Over-the-Rhine's Nolia One of the 50 Best New Restaurants in the U.S.: "[Chef Jeffrey] Harris’s cooking bundles convention and invention into a restless, ever-evolving menu.”

"I'm shocked we were even nominated. I'm just grateful," Harris told CityBeat. "I just feel like the hard work and dedication is being seen."

“It’s of course an honor and wonderful to be recognized, but ultimately the recognition should be for the whole team. Although my name’s attached to the nomination, it’s really them who are the backbone and I just want to make sure that they’re acknowledged. And without them, there would be no restaurant to be nominated,” Salazar said.

"We are thrilled for the return of the James Beard Awards — recognizing the outstandingly talented leaders making their mark on American food,” Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation, said in a press release. “As we’ve heard time and again from honorees, receiving this recognition has the potential to be truly transformative — and so, the Awards remain a vital platform for supporting and elevating the independent restaurant industry as a whole.”

Nominees will be announced on Wednesday, April 3, and the winners will be celebrated at an awards ceremony on Monday, June 10 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.

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About The Author

Katherine Barrier

Katherine Barrier is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s journalism program and has nearly 10 years of experience reporting local and national news as a digital journalist. At CityBeat, she oversees the digital and social media strategies, edits web and print content and writes for the dining and arts...