Donald Link, Brett Anderson and Others Named Finalists for James Beard Awards

The finalists have all been announced for the 2012 James Beard Foundation Awards, and New Orleans is heavily represented. Our fair city especially dominated the finalists for the Best Chef: South category. Four, count 'em, four out of the five finalists in that category are from New Orleans: Justin Devillier of La Petite Grocery, John Harris of Lilette and Bouligny Tavern, Tory McPhail of Commander's Palace and Alon Shaya of Domenica. Sue Zemanick of Gautreau's is once again a finalist for Rising Star.

The biggest news might be that Donald Link is a finalist for the national Outstanding Chef award; the owner of Cochon and Herbsaint has previously won Beard awards in the Best Chef: South and Best American Cookbook categories. Speaking of cookbooks, John Besh is a finalist for his book My Family Table. The other New Orleans finalists are Emeril's Restaurant, a finalist for Outstanding Wine Program, and the Times-Pic food guy Brett Anderson, whose nomination is for a pair of pieces on the effects of the BP Oil Spill on an oyster company.

Eater National has the full list of nominees. The winners will be announced on May 7 at a ceremony in New York City.

· Here Are the 2012 James Beard Awards Finalists [-E-]
· All James Beard Coverage on Eater NOLA [-ENOLA-]