Now this is "Breaking News You Can Use"!

The James Beard Foundation has unveiled its 2025 semifinalist nominees, officially kicking off the hospitality awards season. Check out which local stars made the cut:

Outstanding Restaurateur
-Scott Drewno and Danny Lee, The Fried Rice Collective (Anju, Chiko, and I Egg You), Washington, D.C.

Outstanding Chef 
-Amy Brandwein, Centrolina, Washington, D.C.  

Outstanding Restaurant  
-The Dabney, Washington, D.C.

Emerging Chef 
-Paolo Dungca, Hiraya, Washington, D.C.

Best New Restaurant
-Maude & the Bear, Staunton, VA
-Mita, Washington, D.C.

Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker
-Susan Bae, Moon Rabbit, Washington, D.C.

Outstanding Hospitality presented by American Airlines
-Tail Up Goat, Washington, D.C.

Best New Bar
-Bar Cana, Washington, D.C.

Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service
-Andra "AJ" Johnson, Serenata, Washington, D.C.

Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)  
-Matt Adler, Cucina Morini, Washington, D.C.
-Henji Cheung, Queen's English, Washington, D.C.
-Matt Conroy and Isabel Coss, Pascual, Washington, D.C.
-Michael Correll, Ruse, St. Michaels, MD
-Carlos Delgado, Causa and Amazonia, Washington, D.C.
-Ruben Garcia, Casa Teresa, Washington, D.C.
-Fernando Gonzalez, 2Fifty Barbeque, Riverdale, MD and Washington, DC
-Jasmine Norton, The Urban Oyster, Baltimore, MD
-Cagla Onal Urel, Green Almond Pantry, Washington, D.C.
-Jarad Slipp, Tremolo, Middleburg, VA

Nominees will be announced on Wednesday, April 2, and winners will be announced at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on Monday, June 16 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. See how others across the country fared here.