The James Beard Foundation today announced the finalists for their 2020 awards and several Charleston businesses made the cut.
For the seventh straight year, FIG was chosen as a finalist in the Outstanding Wine Program category. The restaurant won this category in 2018 year.
For the second straight year, Scott Blackwell and Ann Marshall of High Wire Distilling Company jointly moved on in the Outstanding Wine, Spirits, or Beer Producer category.
Mark and Kerry Marhefka, co-owners of Abundant Seafood, were among the 2020 Leadership Award honorees. According to the official website, the James Beard Foundation's Leadership Awards “spotlight the important and complex realms of sustainability, food justice, and public health. They raise awareness of these timely issues by celebrating the visionaries responsible for creating a healthier, safer, and more equitable and sustainable food system.”
The Dewberry, alongside New York design firm Workstead, were honored in the Outstanding Design of Alternative Eating & Drinking Places category for their work on The Citrus Club.
The Post and Courier’s Tony Bartelme and Hanna Raskin were named finalists in the Journalism Categories, while Plate‘s Ali Rosen was nominated in the Personal Essay, Short Form award for “In Memoriam of Hominy Grill, the Restaurant That Defined Charleston.” The Foundation also announced that they will forego a physical ceremony for the 2020 Media Awards. Instead, they will issue a press release on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 announcing the winners.
Former Charleston chef Sean Brock is a finalist in the Book Awards category for South: Essential Recipes and New Explorations.
The James Beard Foundation’s Restaurant & Chef Award winners will be announced on Friday, September 25, 2020, from Chicago, broadcast live via the James Beard Foundation's Twitter feed.
You can view the entire list of finalists here.