James Beard Foundation announces 2015 finalists

The James Beard Foundation announced the finalists for its 2015 awards Tuesday, with several North Bay authors, vintners and restaurateurs among the winners.

Petaluma baker Kathleen Weber of Della Fattoria Bakery was nominated for her cookbook, 'Della Fattoria Bread: 63 Foolproof Recipes for Yeasted, Enriched & Naturally Leavened Breads' (Artisan, 2014) in the Baking and Dessert Category.

'A New Napa Cuisine' (Ten Speed Press, 2014), photographed by Jen Munkvold and Taylor Peden, was nominated in the Photography category. The book was written by chef Christopher Kostow of The Restaurant at Meadowood in St. Helena.

In the Outstanding Restaurateur category, longtime Napa Valley chef Cindy Pawlcyn of Mustards Grill in Napa and Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen in St. Helena, was nominated for the second year in a row.

Ted Lemon of Littorai Wines in Sebastopol was nominated in the category of Outstanding Wine, Beer and Spirits Professional.

The Book, Broadcast and Journalism Awards Dinner will be held April 24 in New York City and will be hosted by Carla Hall. The James Beard Foundation Awards Ceremony for the Restaurant and Chefs will take place May 4 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago and will be hosted by Alton Brown.

The James Beard Foundation Awards are the highest honors given to food and beverage professionals working in North America. For a complete list of winners, go to jamesbeard.org.

Staff writer Diane Peterson can be reached at 521-5287 or diane.peterson@pressdemocrat.com