Seattle is rich in Beard nominees

Seattle is well represented in this year's list of nominees for the James Beard Foundation Awards, which were announced Monday.

Seattle P-I restaurant critic Rebekah Denn, currently on family leave, is a finalist along with Brad A. Johnson of Angeleno magazine and Patric Kuh of Los Angeles magazine in the restaurant criticism category.

In the Outstanding Pastry Chef category, Leslie Mackie of Macrina Bakery & Cafe has been nominated for the fourth time. She has yet to win.

Of the five nominees for Best Chef in the Northwest, four are from Seattle-area restaurants: Maria Hines of Tilth, Joseba Jimenez de Jimenez of Harvest Vine, Johnathan Sundstrom of Lark, and Holly Smith of Cafe Juanita in Kirkland. The other is Scott Dolich of Park Kitchen in Portland.

The restaurant Canlis is among the finalists for the Outstanding Service Award.

"Kathy Casey's Northwest Table," by Seattle chef/consultant Kathy Casey, is nominated in the Food of the Americas book category.

The James Beard Foundation, based in New York, is a non-profit organization devoted to celebrating, preserving and perpetuating culinary excellence. This year's winners will be announced during ceremonies on May 6 and 7.