The search for local James Beard 2014 semifinalists

When I read that The James Beard Foundation had announced its much-anticipated list of Restaurant and Chef Award semifinalists for 2014. I wondered if I would recognize any of the  19 Washington, DC area nominations.

BEST NEW RESTAURANT
Rose’s Luxury
OUTSTANDING BAR PROGRAM
The Columbia Room
Rogue 24
OUTSTANDING PASTRY CHEF
Tiffany MacIsaac, Birch & Barley

OUTSTANDING RESTAURANT
Jaleo
Vidalia
OUTSTANDING RESTAURATEUR
Ashok Bajaj, Knightsbridge Restaurant Group (The Bombay Club, Oval Room, and others)
Stephen Starr (not entirely local, but a Washington presence with Le Diplomate)
OUTSTANDING SERVICE
Komi
Marcel’s
OUTSTANDING WINE PROGRAM
CityZen
Marcel’s
RISING STAR CHEF OF THE YEAR
Marjorie Meek-Bradley, Ripple
BEST CHEF: MID-ATLANTIC
Cathal Armstrong, Restaurant Eve
Anthony Chittum, Iron Gate
Haidar Karoum, Proof
Tarver King, the Restaurant at Patowmack Farm
Cedric Maupillier, Mintwood Place
Vikram Sunderam, Rasika

19 nominations out of more than 38,000 entries is impressive. The five final nominees for each category will be chosen by a panel of judges and announced on March 18; the winners will be revealed in May.

As I scanned the list I noted the restaurants I had not visited before and decided I would try to visit the restaurant before the final nominees were announced. My list:

• The Columbia Room
• Rogue 24
• Birch and Barleys
• Le Diplomate
• Iron Gate
• The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm
• Mintwood Place

Where to begin? Follow me as I seek out  this list of 2014 James Beard Award semi-finalists.