Awards have Carolinas presences

Semifinalists for the national James Beard Awards were announced this morning (finalists will be announced March 21 and winners in May) and include:

• Charlotte's Eric Solomon of European Cellars for outstanding wine and spirits professional;
  

• Ben Barker of Magnolia Grill in Durham for outstanding chef, and Magnolia Grill for outstanding restaurant;
  

• Husk in Charleston for best new restaurant;

• Lauren Mitterer of WildFlour Pastry in Charleston for outstanding pastry chef;

• The lead folks behind Chipotle and Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q (both chains) for outstanding restaurateur;
  

• Charleston Grill at Charleston Place Hotel for outstanding service;

• and in the Best Chef: Southeast competition, the following folks in the Carolinas:

Ashley Christensen of Poole’s in Raleigh; Scott Crawford of Herons at the Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary; John Fleer of Canyon Kitchen at Lonesome Valley in Cashiers; Scott Howell of Nana’s in Durham; Shane Ingram of Four Square in Durham; Keith Rhodes of Catch in Wilmington; Chip Smith of Bonne Soirée in Chapel Hill; Andrea Reusing of Lantern in Chapel Hill; Aaron Vandemark of Panciuto in Hillsborough; Craig Deihl of Cypress in Charleston; and Ken Vedrinski of Trattoria Lucca in Charleston.