Eight restaurant in Montana recognized by James Beard Awards

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Oscar nominations don’t come out until Thursday, but this year the food world beat the movies to the punch.

On Wednesday morning the James Beard Awards, which are given to the best and brightest in the culinary world, announced their semifinalists. And eight Montana restaurants made the cut.

That’s about on par with recent years, although unlike the past few, there are no Billings nominees. If you’re looking for the culinary heart of the state, hop on Interstate 90 and head west for about 150 miles until you hit Bozeman. Half of Montana’s semifinalists come from there.

Blackbird Kitchen, the small Italian eatery that’s been a staple of downtown Bozeman since about a decade before anybody shot any TV shows there, is up for Outstanding Restaurant. Wild Crumb, whose long lines are almost as famous as the breads and pastries they serve, is a semifinalist for Outstanding Bakery. And Jarrett Wrisley, who serves up Asian fusion at Shan, is recognized in Best Chef: Mountain — which goes to culinarians in Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming and Montana.

Brett Evje and Michael Ochsner are up for Outstanding Restaurateur for their trio of establishments: J.W. Heist Steakhouse in downtown Bozeman and the wine-centric bistro PLONK, which has locations in Bozeman and Missoula.

Missoula is also represented in Best Chef: Mountain by Brandon Cunningham. It’s Cunningham’s third time on the James Beard shortlist, although his first for downtown Missoula restaurant Pangea, where he started working last spring.

Best Chef: Mountain semifinalists also include Brandon Dearden, from Ember in Hamilton, and Earl James Reynolds, for Herb and Omni in Whitefish.

The James Beards are given out for more than just food, too, as evidenced by Red Lodge’s One Legged Magpie getting a nod for Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program.

A Montanan has still never won a competitive James Beard (two Butte eateries — Pekin Noodle parlor and the newly reopened Matt’s Place — have been awarded the America’s Classic prize). If that changes this year, it’ll start on March 31, when the semifinalists are whittled down to a list of selective nominees.

The big prizes will be given out at Chicago’s Lyric Opera on June 15.