Joe & Paul Bartolotta Named as Semi-Finalists for James Beard Award

February 15, 2018

This morning, the James Beard Foundation announced its award semifinalists for 2018. Milwaukee’s culinary scene received several nods, among them were Joe & Paul Bartolotta, Co-owners of The Bartolotta Restaurants, nominated for the “Best Restaurateur Award” for the second year in a row. The Bartolotta Restaurants celebrates its 25^th year in business in 2018 as its flagship Ristorante Bartolotta first opened its doors in 1993. Paul Bartolotta previously won the James Beard Best Chef Award in two regions, first for his work at Spiaggia in Chicago in 1994 and Bartolotta’s Ristorante di Mare in Las Vegas in 2009. Corporate Executive Chef for the company, Adam Siegel, has also won the James Beard Best Chef Midwest award for his work at Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro in 2008.

The application process began in October 2017, where any person can nominate up to two individuals in an online vote. The James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards Committee, composed of critics, writers, and editors, pares down the list often composed of thousands of entries.  Semifinalists will now move on to a voting body comprised of former James Beard Award winners, Restaurant and Chef Award Committee members and other regional panelists who will choose five finalists in each category. Final Restaurant and Chef Award nominees will be announced in Philadelphia on Wednesday, March 14. The 2018 James Beard Awards Gala will take place on Monday, May 7, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. The 2018 Media Awards will be held on Friday, April 27, at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York City.