The James Beard Foundation has announced its 2022 Restaurant and Chef Awards finalists for the returning James Beard Awards. Winners will be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on Monday, June 13 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

In both the Outstanding Baker and Outstanding Pastry Chef categories, five nominees have been selected. Among them are:

Outstanding Pastry Chef (Qualifications: A pastry chef or a chef who makes desserts, pastries or breads served as part of a meal. Candidate demonstrates exceptional skills and can be affiliated with any food business and does not need a brick-and-mortar presence. Must have been working as a pastry chef or chef who makes desserts for the past three years.)

  • Warda Bouguettaya, Warda Pâtisserie, Detroit
  • Margarita Manzke, République, Los Angeles
  • Claudia Martinez, Miller Union, Atlanta
  • Ruben Ortega, Xochi, Houston
  • Caroline Schiff, Gage & Tollner, NYC

Outstanding Baker (Qualifications: A baker of breads, pastries or desserts who displays exceptional skill. Must consistently sell goods directly to the public, but does not need a brick-and-mortar presence and must have been working as a pastry chef or baker for the past three years.)

  • Maya-Camille Broussard, Justice of the Pies, Chicago
  • Atsuko Fujimoto, Norimoto Bakery, Portland, ME
  • Don Guerra, Barrio Bread, Tucson, AZ
  • Caroline Schweitzer and Lauren Heemstra, Wild Crumb, Bozeman, MT
  • Zak Stern, Zak the Baker, Miami

“The Awards are a great reminder that we are among innovators, entrepreneurs and trailblazers who represent a wide range of regions, cultures and cooking philosophies,” says Tanya Holland, chair of the James Beard Awards Committee. “And this year, in particular, is a great reminder of how incredibly diverse our industry is. I am proud of the changes the James Beard Foundation has made to the Awards program to ensure equity and inclusion, and though it is just the beginning of an ongoing commitment, we are already seeing the impact. This is the most diverse list I’ve seen in Awards history, and I am honored to be a part of that change.”

The full list of categories and nominees can be found at the James Beard Foundation’s website.