The results are in — 10 Michigan restaurants, eight of them in southeast Michigan — are contenders for this year’s “Oscars of food.” The James Beard Foundation Awards’ 2025 semifinalist list was announced on Jan. 22.
Yearly, the James Beard Foundation’s award ceremony recognizes chefs, restaurants, and food media professionals at a national level — regarded as one of the hospitality industry’s highest honors.
The most recent local James Beard awardee to date is Hajime Sato of Sozai in Clawson. Last year, he took home the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Great Lakes.
Here’s a list of the 2025 James Beard semifinalists from Michigan:
Selden Standard, Detroit — Outstanding Restaurant
Since opening in 2014, Selden Standard has earned many accolades including being named Hour Detroit’s 2016 Restaurant of the Year. Helmed by Chef Andy Hollyday, the restaurant is known for its focus on seasonal small plates and locally-sourced ingredients. This is the restaurant’s ninth time achieving semifinalist status. It was also an award nominee in 2023. 3921 2nd Ave., Detroit; seldenstandard.com.
Vecino, Detroit — Best New Restaurant
Owned by Adriana Jimenez, Lukasz Wietrzynski and Colin Tury, and inspired by the regional cuisines of Oaxaca and Mexico City, Vecino has made a name for itself with its fire-roasted dishes like the pescado (whole fish with half salsa verde, half salsa rosa) and an in-house nixtamalization program. It was one of Hour Detroit’s Best New Restaurants for 2024. 4100 3rd Ave, Detroit; vecinodetroit.com.
Secret Bakery, Ferndale — Outstanding Bakery
What started as a hobby, then side hustle, for baker Maxwell Leonard blossomed into a full-fledged business. With a rotating menu that features breads like baguette, focaccia, the small bakery has become a Ferndale favorite. It recently welcomed next-door-neighbor Tall Trees Cafe, which offers gourmet sandwiches on Secret Bakery bread. This is Secret Bakery’s first James Beard accolade. 821 Livernois St, Ferndale; maxbread.net.
Baobab Fare, Detroit —Outstanding Hospitality
Chefs and owners Hamissi Mamba and Nadia Nijimbere grew their dream of a Burundian restaurant from a pop-up to an acclaimed restaurant, with plans to open two more concepts this year. The menu is typified by dishes like the Mbuzi, slow-roasted goat shank served with fresh corn salad. This is Baobab Fare’s fourth year as a James Beard Award contender. 6568 Woodward Ave., Detroit; baobabfare.com.
Spencer, Ann Arbor — Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program
The project of wine aficionado Steve Hall and chef Abby Olitzky, Spencer is part-restaurant, part-wine market with communal seating, a huge bottle selection, and thoughtful plates. Spencer was a 2023 nominee in the same category, and a semifinalist last year. 113 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor; spencerannarbor.com.
Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH) Semifinalists
Javier Bardauil, Barda, Detroit
Buenos Aires native chef Javier Bardauil brought his signature open-flame cooking to Detroit with Barda, his neo-steakhouse concept in 2021. Since then, he’s opened the acclaimed Puma, its more casual sister restaurant just across the street. Barda was nominated for the Foundation’s Best New Restaurant category in 2022. 4842 Grand River Ave, Detroit; bardadetroit.com.
Ji Hye Kim, Miss Kim, Ann Arbor
Ji Hye Kim’s restaurant Miss Kim opened in 2016 in Ann Arbor’s Kerrytown Market. Kim pays tribute to traditional Korean cuisine, incorporating locally sourced ingredients. Kim has been a semifinalist in 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024. 415 N. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor; misskimannarbor.com.
John Yelinek, Ladder 4 Wine Bar, Detroit
Ladder 4 Wine Bar, located in a former firehouse, has garnered much national acclaim since opening in 2022, gracing the best lists of Bon Appétit and The New York Times. John Yelinek’s much-talked-about small plates include the Drive-Thru Hash Browns, topped with sour cream and caviar. Yelinek was a semifinalist last year in the same category. 3396 Vinewood St., Detroit; ladder4winebar.com.
Jennifer Blakeslee and Eric Patterson, The Cooks’ House, Traverse City
Chef-owners Jennifer Blakeslee and Eric Patterson worked together in Michelin-starred kitchens in Las Vegas before relocating Blakeslee’s native Traverse City, where they opened The Cooks’ House in 2008. The 26-seat restaurant is known for its frequently changing farm-to-fork menu, as well as its wine program and cooking classes. This is their first James Beard nod. 115 Wellington St, Traverse City; cookshousetc.com.
Missy Corey, Pennyroyal Cafe and Provisions, Saugatuck
A Chicago-native and previous winner of Food Network’s Chopped, Missy Corey helms the kitchen at Saugatuck’s Pennyroyal Café. The restaurant’s philosophy is “honest, seasonal, home-style cuisine.” This is Corey’s first James Beard nod. 3319 Blue Star Hwy, Saugatuck; pennyroyalprovisions.com.
For a full list of the 2025 James Beard Semifinalists, visit jamesbeard.org.
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