Here Are New Orleans James Beard Foundation Award Finalists

The final nominees for the 2016 James Beard Foundation Awards have just been announced, and New Orleans has racked up 8 nominations for the Restaurant, Chef, and Restaurant Design awards and four local nominees in the Book, Broadcast & Journalism Awards. Legendary New Orleans chef and restaurateur Leah Chase will also receive the 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award. Here are your local finalists:

Outstanding Chef

Donald Link, Herbsaint

Best New Restaurant

Shaya

Outstanding Bar Program

Arnaud's French 75 Bar

Cure

Outstanding Wine Program

Commander's Palace

Best Chef South

Justin Devillier, La Petite Grocery

Slade Rushing, Brennan's

Isaac Toups, Toups' Meatery

Podcast

Gravy, Tina Antolini

Personal Essay

Jacques Pepin Saved My Life, Brett Martin for GQ

(The New) Broad Way, New Orleans,  Rien Fertel for The Local Palate

Humor

Julia Reed for Garden & Gun

The James Beard Foundation will announce the winners of this year's Book, Broadcast & Journalism Awards at an event in New York City on April 26. The foundation will then announce the winners for this year's awards for Restaurant, Chef, and Restaurant Design on May 2 at a gala at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

For a full list of finalists, head over to Eater.