Awards, Present (and Future?)

The 2009 James Beard Foundation Award nominees won't be announced until March 23, but three Cleveland chefs have earned spots as semifinalists. Both Zachary Bruell (Parallax, Table 45, L’Albatros) and Michael Symon (Lola, Lolita) earned spots in the Best Chef – Great Lakes Region category, while Cory Barrett (Lola, Lolita) scored a nod in the Outstanding Pastry Chef category. “This is one of the highest culinary awards in my profession," said Bruell. "It’s an honor just to be mentioned with the people on that list and the past winners. It’s also a huge honor to be representing Cleveland." This year's award ceremony will be held May 3-4 in New York.

In other Symon news: Roast restaurant, in less than a full year of service, has earned a major Detroit-area dining award. The Detroit Free Press recently named Symon's Roast the 2009 Free Press Restaurant of the Year. Now, if he can finally snag that elusive Beard award.