Charlotte rates James Beard nominees

Good Food on Montford, Bruce and Kerry Moffett's small-plates place, is among 31 nominees for Best New Restaurant in the national James Beard awards -- sort of the Oscars of the U.S. restaurant world. Charlotte's Eric Solomon is also up in the Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional field. Each list will be whittled to five finalists on March 22, then winners will be announced May 3 in New York.

Other Carolinas semifinalists: Crook's Corner in Chapel Hill and Durham's Magnolia Grill as Outstanding Restaurant (Magnolia is also up for Outstanding Service); and a crowd for Best Chef: Southeast: Ashley Christensen of Poole's in Raleigh, Sean Brock of McCrady's and Craig Diehl of Cypress, both in Charleston, Scott Howell of Nana's in Durham, Bill Smith of Crook's Corner, Andrea Reusing of Lantern in Chapel Hill, Jacob Sessoms of Table in Asheville, and Ken Vedrinski of Sienna in Daniel Island, S.C.