These Cleveland chefs are semifinalists for the James Beard Awards

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - The Cleveland culinary scene will be well-represented in this year’s James Beard Awards.

Four local chefs have been named semi-finalists.

Chef Douglas Katz of the Edgewater Hospitality Group is a semifinalist in the “Outstanding Restaurateur” category.

He is the chef behind local favorites like Zhug, Amba, Kiln.

Katz is one of only 20 finalists nationwide up for this award.

He was previously nominated in the “Best Chef: Great Lakes” category.

Both Vinnie Cimino of Cordelia, and Jeremy Umansky of Larder Delicatessen and Bakery were named semifinalists in this year’s “Best Chef: Great Lakes” category.

And Umansky’s wife and partner at Larder, Allie La Valle, was named as a semifinalist in a nationwide grouping in the “Outstanding Pastry Chef of Baker” category.

All of the chefs were pleased to see the Cleveland culinary scene recognized with so many semifinalists.

“Hopefully they choose CLE this year,” Katz commented.

“It’s really just great for Cleveland to show that there’s talent here. We have amazing food, amazing people. We really have something to offer, and it’s great to represent our city in that way,” La Valle said.

The field will be narrowed on April 2, and winners will be announced at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on June 16 at a ceremony in Chicago.