Yesterday, January 22 the James Beard Foundation dropped the 2025 award semifinalists sending food professionals and their fans into the annual tizzy.
We’ll start by saying 2024 was a banner year for Hudson Valley restaurants and bakeries, with the region laying claim to SEVEN nominees in categories ranging from Outstanding Bakery (lookin’ at you Mel the Baker) to Outstanding Restaurant (tip o’ the cap to The DeBruce), not to mention five Best Chef nominations. Mamma mia.
This year, three of the chefs tapped last year have their hats in the ring one again, hoping to secure the award of Best Chef in New York State. Back for another round are: Clare de Boer of the Stissing House in Pine Plains, Efren Hernandez of Leeds’s Casa Susanna; and Shaina Loew-Banayan at Cafe Mutton.
Go make your reservations before the phones ring off the hook. And while you’re drawing up your roadmap for future culinary adventures. It’s worth mentioning a couple other notables.
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Cafe Mutton: The Corner Eatery That’s Become a Neighborhood Hot Spot
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Clare de Boer Opens Stissing House in Pine Plains
A Bearded Bunch: Other Local James Beard Award Nominees and Winners
In 2012, as chef and co-owner of Manhattan’s Sorella, Emma Hearst was nominated for James Beard’s Rising Star category. Last spring, she debuted the Farm Shoppe in Hudson, which sells from-scratch and packaged pantry items; curated, antique tableware; and produce and flowers fresh from Forts Ferry Farm, which she has run with her husband and his brother for a decade. Every dish starts with quality ingredients, which you can stock up on at Farm Shoppe.
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Farm Shoppe in Hudson: A Collaborative Destination
Celebrated baker Nora Allen is not once but twice-nominated for a James Beard award. In 2021, she earned the Eater Award for Best Bakery and was a semifinalist in the James Beard Outstanding Pastry Chef category. In December 2023, Allen moved her LES shop Mel the Bakery to Hudson, and last year she was again nominated for Outstanding Bakery. How much more convincing do you need to go try her famed cinnamon rolls?
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Mel the Bakery Takes Over Breadfolks Space in Hudson
And while we’re on the topic of pastries, Kingston just welcomed a James Beard Award-winning baker into its loving arms. In December, Angela Pinkerton opened the eponymous bakery Pinkerton’s in the old Cake Box building. She took home the James Beard Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef in 2011 while working at Eleven Madison Park, and has only honed her craft in the past 14 years.
