Birmingham restaurant and pastry chef are finalists for the 2017 James Beard Foundation Awards

Cheers to Highlands Bar & Grill and their pastry chef, Dolester Miles, for earning top spots as finalists for the 2017 James Beard Foundation Awards.

This is Highlands’ ninth nomination, (fingers seriously crossed, ya’ll) and Miles’ second nomination. She has been with Highlands Bar & Grill since they opened in 1982 and is one of five finalists for Outstanding Pastry Chef.

Highlands Bar & Grill is up for Outstanding Restaurant, and while we already know that’s the truth, let’s all hope Birmingham brings home an award or two this year.

Alabama is lucky to claim Highlands Bar & Grill as its own, but don’t forget that we also claimed a handful of semifinalists for the awards, too.

You can read all about them in my last James Beard Foundation Awards’ post for Bham Now by visiting this link.

The James Beard Foundation Awards are no joke, as they represent the highest cooking and restaurant awards in the United States. The James Beard Foundation Awards also recognize restaurant design, food media, wine and bar programs and restaurateurs from across the country.

According to jamesbeard.org, the James Beard Foundation Awards were established in 1990, and they recognize culinary professionals for excellence and achievement in their fields, emphasizing the Foundation’s mission to celebrate, nurture and honor America’s diverse culinary heritage through programs that educate and inspire.

Each award category features an individual committee that’s made up of industry professionals who volunteer their time to oversee the policies, procedures and selection of judges for their respective awards. All award winners receive a certificate and a medallion engraved with the James Beard Foundation Awards insignia. There are no cash prizes.

Want to know more about the namesake of the organization and the awards? James Beard is known as the father of American cookery. Check out his inspiring bio here.