The James Beard Foundation has released its massive list of semi-finalists [PDF] in the restaurant and chef categories, and the D.C. area has plenty of contenders. So far, at least.

It’s a bit early to get too pump over this list, which was whittled down from more than 15,000 entries. At present, many of the categories boast 20 or more semi-finalists, but by March 23, each will be pared down to five. The winners will be honored on May 4 at the Lincoln Center in New York City.

With that said, D.C. was well represented among the semi-finalists. Young & Hungry sends out a hearty congratulations for those local chefs and restaurants that made the cut. They include:

OUTSTANDING RESTAURATEUR

Ashok Bajaj, The Oval Room, The Bombay Club, Ardeo, Bardeo, 701, and Rasika.

OUTSTANDING CHEF

José Andrés, Minibar

OUTSTANDING RESTAURANT

Kinkead’s

Vidalia

BEST NEW RESTAURANT

The Bazaar by José Andrés at SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills, Los Angeles

Cork

Volt

RISING STAR CHEF OF THE YEAR

Johnny Monis, Komi

OUTSTANDING WINE AND SPIRITS PROFESSIONAL

Todd Thrasher, Restaurant Eve

BEST CHEF: MID-ATLANTIC

Cathal Armstrong, Restaurant Eve

Anthony Chittum, Vermilion

Haidar Karoum, Proof

Peter Pastan, Obelisk

Tom Power, Corduroy

Vikram Sunderam, Rasika

Cindy Wolf, Charleston, Baltimore

Photo by Darrow Montgomery