The first big date on this year’s food calendar has arrived – today sees the wraps taken off the eagerly anticipated semi-finalist list for the 2025 James Beard Foundation (JBF) awards; the JBF ostensibly being North America’s answer to Europe’s heavily worshipped Michelin awards.
The names should be obvious for seasoned foodies around the Beehive, the line-up including a who’s who of Utah culinary talent – most reprising previous nominations. The full list can be found here, with the notable Utah appearances for 2025 as follows.
Outstanding restaurateur
- Lavanya Mahate, Saffron Valley Restaurants, Salt Lake City
I wrote about Mahate (pictured top) back in 2023 in this article previewing the opening of Bix, and the attached RISE Culinary Institute. The nod for outstanding restaurateur is a prestigious one, pitching the serial restaurateur amongst twenty of the nation’s best.
Best chef mountain
- Mike Blocher and Nick Fahs, Table X, Salt Lake City
- Matt Harris, tupelo Park City
- Andrew Fuller, Oquirrh, Salt Lake City
- Nick Zocco, Urban Hill, Salt Lake City
This makes back-to-back appearances for both Zocco and the Table X team. Both appeared on the 2024 semi-finalist list, albeit Table X previously competed in the outstanding bakery category. Zocco himself went all the way to the finals last year, alongside Mazza chef, Ali Sabbah. Fuller received a prior nomination in 2023 for his work at Oquirrh. As a reminder, the mountain region encompasses the very best culinary talent from Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming.

Outstanding hospitality
- Manoli’s, Salt Lake City
Another name bouncing back to the list, last seen in this same category two years ago. Here’s a little background on the restaurant and team, as well as a recent preview of the newly opened Parea; ostensibly the casual cafe counterpart to the fully-fledged fine dining Manoli’s.
Outstanding bar
- Water Witch, Salt Lake City
The ‘Witch last appeared in this category in 2022, while sister business Bar Nohm also appeared last year for best chef. Bar Nohm has been one of the most exciting openings in recent years (read my preview here) – made possible by the once again recognized talent of the attached Water Witch.
Outstanding pastry chef or baker
- Adalberto Diaz, Fillings and Emulsions, Salt Lake City
Diaz’s career in Utah has been a notable one. Since his 2012 award as the American Culinary Federation Pastry Chef of the Year, the baker has appeared on several Food Network shows, not least scooping up bags of other awards through the years
All eyes now turn to April 2nd when the semi-finalists are whittled down, all hoping to appear at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on Monday, June 16th at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
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Hi, I’m Stuart, nice to meet you! I’m the founder, writer and wrangler at Gastronomic SLC. I’m a multiple-award winning journalist and have written in myopic detail about the Salt Lake City dining scene for the better part of seventeen years.
I’ve worked extensively with multiple local publications from Visit Salt Lake to Salt Lake Magazine, not least helped to consult on national TV. Pause those credits, yep, that’s me! I’m also a former restaurant critic of more than five years, working for the Salt Lake Tribune. I’m largely fueled by a critical obsession with rice, alliteration and the use of big words I don’t understand. What they’re saying about me: “Not inaccurate”, “I thought he was older”, “I don’t share his feelings”.
Want to know more? This is why I am the way I am.
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