No Indiana chefs made James Beard finals this year, but state has several top restaurants

The James Beard Foundation on Wednesday announced the finalists for its Best Chefs categories, and no Indiana chefs made the list.

Two Hoosier state reps had been the running to be named among the nation’s best chefs by the country’s top culinary organization.

Thomas Melvin, executive chef at Vida in Indianapolis and Sal Fernandez, executive chef of Bridges Craft Pizza & Wine Bar in Greencastle, in January were named semifinalists for James Beard Foundation awards, considered the Oscars of the culinary world.

They were among a field of chefs from 20 restaurants in the region that includes Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio.

The 2024 James Beard Best Chef category in the Great Lakes Region are:

• Vinnie Cimino of Cordelia in Cleveland, Ohio

• Jose Salazar of Mita's in Cincinnati, Ohio

• Sujan Sarkar of Indienne in Chicago, Illinois

• Hajime Sato of Sozai in Clawson, Michigan

• Jenner Tomaska of Esmé in Chicago, Illinois

This is Melvin’s second time making the chef semifinalists list.

The Indiana native was the lone representative of the state in any Beard award category in 2022.

Melvin was executive chef at Union 50 before joining Vida in 2017. Both restaurants are part of the Cunningham Restaurant Group.

It was the first time for Fernandez as a semifinalist.

The French-trained chef, a Culinary Institute of America graduate, last year orchestrated a James Beard Foundation benefit dinner at Bridges  to help raise the profile of Indiana cuisine.

The Best Chef award winners from across the country will be revealed during a ceremony in Chicago on June 10.

Past James Beard best chefs semifinalists in Indiana

Indiana has seen several chefs in the running for the best chefs award in the past:

• Sal Fernandez of Bridges Wine Bar, Greencastle (2024)

• Thomas Melvin of Vida, Indianapolis (2022, 2024)

• Abbi Merriss, formerly of Bluebeard, Indianapolis (2016-2020, 2023)

• Samir Mohammad, of 9th Street Bistro, Noblesville (2023)

• Steven Oakley, of Oakleys Bistro, Indianapolis (2008, 2011, 2018, 2019)

• Jonathan Brooks, of Milktooth, Indianpolis (2016, 2017)

• Sean Richardson of The Golden, Fort Wayne (2017)

• Aaron Butts of The Golden , Fort Wayne (2017); and Joseph Decuis, Roanoke (2011)

• Micah Frank, of Black Market (2015)

• Daniel Orr, of FARMbloomington, Bloomington (2015)

• David Tallent, (executive chef at Indiana Univertsity),  formerly of Restaurant Tallent, Bloomington (2008-2015)

• Regina Mehallick, of R Bistro, (2010- 2014)

• Neal Brown, of The Libertine Liquor Bar, (2013, 2014)

Alan Sternberg was a semifinalist for Rising Star Chef of the Year in 2016 and 2018; meanwhile, Beholder was a semifinalist for Outstanding Wine Program in 2020 and Love handle was a semifinalist for Outstanding Hospitality that same year; and Bluebeard was a semifinalist for Best New Restaurant in 2013. Sternberg is now executive chef at Bluebeard.

Wagner’s Village Inn in Oldenburg was named one of the America's Classics Award winners by the James Beard Foundation in 2023.

Operators have also been honored.

Martha Hoover, founder of Won’t Stop Hospitality Inc. (Café Patachou, Public Greens, Bar One Fourteen, Napolese Pizzeria) in Indianapolis was a semifinalist in the Outstanding Restaurateur category in 2013 and then every year from 2016 to 2020.

Mike, Nick and Simon Floyd of Three Floyds Brewing, Munster, were each semifinalists in the Outstanding Wine, Spirits or Beer Professional category from  2013 to 2015.

Indiana restaurants have received accolades from other organizations, as well.

Indiana has five AAA Four Diamond restaurants.

There are about 535 restaurants with the AAA Four Diamond designation; having passed on-site evaluations with 13 minimum requirements.

Trained inspectors visit hotels and restaurants throughout the year looking for distinctive fine dining and premium service amid upscale ambience.

The AAA Four Diamond list, which is updated monthly, includes:

• Artisan, Elkhart

• Vida, Indianapolis

• Joseph Decuis, Roanoke

• LaSalle Grill, South Bend

• Roselily, South Bend

See the19 Indiana Wine Spectator Restaurant Awards winners.

The state is home to 19 restaurants recognized by Wine Spectator in 2023 with wine lists offering interesting selections that appropriate to their cuisine and appeal to a wide range of wine lovers.

See the list at winespectator.com.

Contact IndyStar reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at [email protected] or 317-444-6264. Follow her on Twitter:@cherylvjackson.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: James Beard announces finalists for 2024 awards. How Indy chefs did