Michael Schwartz, Zach Bell in James Beard Final Nominees List

Photo via jamesbeard.org

​Chefs Michael Schwartz of Michael's Genuine Food & Drink and Zach Bell of Café Boulud in Palm Beach were the only Florida chefs to move onto the James Beard Awards nominees short list.

While 11 chefs from Florida -- four from South Florida -- were named among the semifinalists in the Best Chef: South category, only Schwartz and Bell moved forward. The two other South Florida semifinalists were Kris Wessel of Red Light and Philippe Ruiz of Palme D'Or.

Chef Hedy Goldsmith, also of Michael's Genuine Food & Drink, was not among the final nominees for Outstanding Pastry Chef. Nor was Myles Chefetz of Myles Restaurant Group in Miami Beach in the Outstanding Restaurateur category.

Others that did not move forward include Sam Gorenstein of BLT Steak at the Betsy Hotel in the Rising Star Chef of the Year category, and Eos and Solea, which were both semifinalists in the Best New Restaurant category.

The winners in each category will be announced on May 3 at an awards gala and reception in New York City.