Los Gatos Manresa Chef David Kinch is James Beard Award Semifinalist

The James Beard Foundation has announced that Los Gatos-based Manresa restaurant Chef David Kinch is a 2013 semifinalist for its restaurant and chef award, the nation’s most prestigious recognition program honoring professionals in the food and beverage industries.

Kinch was selected from a list of more than 44,000 online entries. The prestigious group of semifinalists in 20 categories represents a variety of culinary talent, from exceptional chefs and dining destinations in 10 different regions across the U.S., to the nation’s top wine and spirits professionals, best new restaurants, and rising star chefs, the James Beard Foundation said in a press release.

On Monday, March 18, the foundation was to announce the final nominees for all award categories in Charleston, SC.

The James Beard Foundation holds an online open call for entries beginning in mid-October of each year producing a list of semifinalists in each of the 20 restaurant and chef awards categories, which include outstanding chef, outstanding restaurant, best chef in 10 different U.S. regions, rising star chef of the year, outstanding service, outstanding wine, spirits, or beer professional, outstanding bar program and best new restaurant, according to the release.

The semifinalist nominees' list is then sent to an independent volunteer panel of more than 600 judges from across the country. This panel, which comprises leading regional restaurant critics, food and wine editors, culinary educators, and past James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Award winners, votes on specific award categories to determine the final five nominees in each category, the release stated.

The same judges then vote on these five nominees to select the winners. The governing Awards Committee, board of trustees, and staff of the James Beard Foundation do not vote, and the results are kept confidential until the presentation of winners in May, the release said.