Cindy Pawlcyn, Miljenko Grgich named James Beard Award finalists

The finalists for the 2016 James Beard Foundation Awards were announced on Tuesday from the Presidio Officers’ Club in San Francisco, including several Wine Country legends.

Cindy Pawlcyn, the groundbreaking chef/owner of Mustards Grill in Rutherford and Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen in St. Helena, was among five chosen for Outstanding Restaurateur. Michael Mina of Mina Restaurants in San Francisco also made the cut in that category.

Miljenko “Mike” Grgich of Grgich Hills Estate in Rutherford was among the five nominated for Outstanding Wine, Beer or Spirits Professional. Gina Gallo, a Healdsburg winemaker and Napa resident, was one of five inducted into the 2016 James Beard Foundation Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America.

San Francisco Bay Area chefs got several nods in the Best Chef: West category, including Matthew Accarrino of SPQR, Dominique Creen of Atelier Crenn and Corey Lee of Benu, all of San Francisco.

In addition, Liholiho Yacht Club of San Francisco was nominated for Best New Restaurant; Belinda Leong and Michel Suas of B. Patisserie in San Francisco were nominated for Outstanding Baker; Bar Agricole in San Francisco was nominated for Outstanding Bar Program; and Michael Tusk of Quince in San Francisco was nominated for Outstanding Chef.

In the 2016 James Beard Foundation Book Awards, “This is Camino,” by Camino chef Russell Moore and co-owner Allison Hopelain, was nominated in the Cooking from a Professional Point of View category. “Near & Far: Recipes Inspired by Home and Travel,” by San Francisco author Heidi Swanson, was nominated in the Photography category.

Winners in the Restaurant and Chef categories, along with the Who’s Who awards, will be announced on May 2 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. The James Beard Foundation Book, Broadcast & Journalism awards will be announced on April 26 at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York City.

For a complete list of nominees, go to jamesbeard.org/awards.