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The foundation received more than 24,000 online entries spanning 21 different categories recognizing wine and spirits professionals, new restaurants and rising star chefs, pastry chefs and bakers. The following local chefs and restaurants were recognized:
Outstanding Bar Program
Anvil Bar & Refuge
Outstanding Restaurateur
Tracy Vaught, H Town Restaurant Group(Hugo's, Caracol, Backstreet Cafe, and others)
Outstanding Service
Hugo's, Houston
Rising Star Chef of the Year
William Wright, Helen Greek Food and Wine
Best Chef: Southwest
Manabu Horiuchi, Kata Robata
Anita Jaisinghani, Pondicheri
Hugo Ortega, Hugo's
Seth Siegel-Gardner and Terrence Gallivan, The Pass
Jianyun Ye, Mala Sichuan Bistro
Click here to see the full list of semifinalists.
A panel of more than 600 judges from around the country will vote to determine five finalists in each category. Finalists will be announced during a press conference on Wednesday, March 9, and winners will be announced Monday, May 1 in Chicago.