Not quite the Oscars
Nominations are in for the James Beard Foundation Awards. The list includes nods to a number of locals.

• Outstanding Restaurateur - Ashok Bajaj - Ardeo, Bardeo, Bombay Club, The Oval Room, Rasika, and 701
• Best Chef Mid-Atlantic - Cathal Armstrong, Restaurant Eve; Carole Greenwood, Buck's Fishing & Camping; Koji Terano, Sushi-Ko; Eric Ziebold, CityZen
• Outstanding Pastry Chef - Naomi Gallego, PS 7
• Rising Star of the Year - Johnny Monis, Komi
• Outstanding Chef - José Ramon Andres, Minibar
• Outstanding Restaurant - Vidalia
• Outstanding Wine Service - Vidalia
• Outstanding Wine & Spirits Professional - Terry Theise, Terry Theise Estate Selections; Todd Thrasher, Restaurant Eve
• Best New Restaurant - Central Michel Richard; The Source

The Chef's Chef Award

Also known as The What's a Publicist? Award for the chef who continues to make the kind of food other chefs like, while flying largely under the national radar

Nominees: Scott Bryan for Veritas and now -- some place in Virginia

Although Bryan has been replaced by Bertrand Chemel, Bourdain and most DCists share the same sentiment... 2941 is somewhere out there in Virginia, Falls Church to be exact.

Photo by {ryan}

Small Bites
The passion of the pork
We find out via DCist alum Melissa McCart's City Paper piece on charcuterie that both Cathal Armstrong of Restaurant Eve and the Neighborhood Restaurant Group plan to open butcher shops selling the deliciously cured stuff. We predicted it would be a big year for local charcuterie, but are still awaiting the announcement of a big partnership at which we hinted earlier.

Yes, we're still in high school
A la David Letterman, Mental Floss held a contest for weird business names. Included among them was our own local chain, Moby Dick Kabob. It's a little hard not to giggle, and some of the other signs are real wieners, a-hem... winners.

Mmm... cheese...
Cheesetique is moving to its new location at 2411 Mt. Vernon Avenue tomorrow. In addition to an enhanced selection, they will be introducing a wine and cheese bar in the coming days.

Welcome Baby Kliman
Congratulations to Washingtonian food critic Todd Kliman and his wife Ellen on the birth of their new baby.