Brioza & Krasinski, Largey, Lindgren, Parr Take Home 2015 James Beard Awards

This year's James Beard Awards weren't quite as much of a Bay Area sweep as in previous years, but locals still took home some major prizes. Chef de cuisine Jessica Largey of Manresa (an Eater Young Guns alum) won the award for Rising Star Chef, while Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski of State Bird Provisions continued the Bay Area's streak of Best Chef: West winners, besting fellow locals Matthew Accarrino (SPQR) and Corey Lee (Benu) for the top prize. (Fun fact: Bay Area chefs have won this award for eight of the past nine years; Daniel Patterson and Christopher Kostow took it home in 2014 and 2013, respectively.)

On the drinks side, A16's Shelley Lindgren, who Eater's Levi Dalton joked had become the "Susan Lucci" of the Beards, finally got her turn in the spotlight for Outstanding Wine Program, while another leading wine professional, Rajat Parr of RN74 and the Mina Group, earned the title of Outstanding Wine, Beer, or Spirits Professional.

Unfortunately, the Bay Area was otherwise shut out of the top prizes, with New York's Bâtard besting The Progress for Best New Restaurant, and both Bar Agricole and Trick Dog losing out to Chicago's The Violet Hour for Outstanding Bar Program. B. Patisserie's Belinda Leong and Michel Suas, Quince (for Outstanding Service), and both Cindy Pawlcyn and Michael Mina (for Outstanding Restaurateur) also lost out. For a full recap of the Beards, including a list of all of the winners, head on over to Eater National.