Central’s chef de cuisine Cedric Maupillier (left) and head chef Michel Richard receive the James Beard Award for best new restaurant

While reality fans and food enthusiasts have spent the past week anticipating tonight’s Top Chef season finale, the James Beard Foundation – the Academy of the food world – spent Sunday night announcing their picks for top chefs and restaurants of 2007.

Once again, the D.C.-area’s nominees provided a strong showing this year by bringing home awards in several categories. Chef Michel Richard’s Central won the title of Best New Restaurant. In the Mid-Atlantic regional awards, CityZen‘s Eric Ziebold beat out fellow local chef Cathal Armstrong to win Best Chef. Lastly, Silver Spring’s Terry Theise took the Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional Award.

Special recognition goes out to Johnny Monis and José Andrés for being nominated this year. If it’s any consolation for Chef Andrés, we’ll be watching Bravo’s A-List Awards Thursday night to see if he can win there.

A full list of winners is available on the James Beard Foundation website. Awards season continues with next month’s RAMMYs.