James Beard Semifinalists Include Hoosiers

Patacou's Martha Hoover is a semifinalist in the Outstanding Restaurateur category.

The New York-based James Beard Foundation has named the 2019 semifinalists for its Restaurant and Chef Awards, and multiple Indiana entries are on the list. The nominees will be announced in March, followed by the James Beard Awards Gala in May.

The Indiana semifinalists include:

Martha Hoover, Patachou Inc., Indianapolis – Outstanding Restaurateur
Abbi Merriss, Bluebeard, Indianapolis – Best Chef, Great Lakes
Steven Oakley, Oakleys Bistro, Indianapolis – Best Chef, Great Lakes

The foundation will announce nominees at an event in Houston on March 27. The James Beard Awards Gala is set for May 6 in Chicago. You can see the full list of semifinalists by clicking here.