Michigan nabs 13 James Beard Awards semi nalists

 More than a dozen restaurants and chefs in Michigan have made the semi nal cut for this year’s James Beard Awards.

 Sandy Levine, owner of Freya and Chartreuse in Detroit and e Oakland in Ferndale, was nominated for Outstanding Restaurateur, while Hajime Sato picked up an Outstanding Chef nomination for his work at Sozai in Clawson. Amando Lopez of Casa Amado Taqueria in Berkley earned a nomination in the Emerging Chef category.

Detroit-based Good Cakes & Bakes was nominated for Outstanding Bakery and Spencer in Ann Arbor was recognized for its wine program. In the regional Best Chef: Great Lakes category, eight Michiganders picked up nominations, including a rare nod outside of a major city:

 Omar Anani, Sa ron De Twah, Detroit

 Abra Berens, Granor Farm, ree Oaks, Mich.

 Norberto Garita, El Barzon, Detroit

 Andy Hollyday, Selden Standard, Detroit

 Ji Hye Kim, Miss Kim, Ann Arbor

 Hamissi Mamba and Nadia Nijimbere, Baobab Fare, Detroit

 Michael Ransom, Ima Izakaya, Detroit

 Sarah Welch, Marrow, Detroit e Great Lakes category includes chefs from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.

Finalists will be announced March 29. Winners will be honored at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony June 5 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Longtime Chef Hajime Sato is the owner of Sozai Restaurant in Clawson. SOZAI

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