Bardea's Antimo DiMeo doesn't make finalist cut for James Beard's coveted Best Chef award
Antimo DiMeo, chef and co-owner of Wilmington's Bardea Food & Drink, was not among the five finalists announced Wednesday, April 2, for Best Chef in the Mid-Atlantic region award by the James Beard Foundation.
DiMeo had been among the 20 semifinalists for the award revealed in January ― his second Best Chef nomination after getting a nod in the same category in 2022. In 2019, Bardea also was recognized by the Beard Foundation as one of the country's best new restaurants.
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Fenwick Island chef/restaurant owner Matthew Kern became the first and only Delaware chef to named a finalist for Best Chef in the Mid-Atlantic region last year.
The five finalists for this year's Mid-Atlantic award on Wednesday:
Henji Cheung, Queen's English, Washington, D.C.
Carlos Delgado, Causa and Amazonia, Washington, D.C.
Jesse Ito, Royal Sushi & Izakaya, Philadelphia
Dan Richer, Razza, Jersey City, N,J,
Amanda Shulman, Her Place Supper Club, Philadelphia
The winner will be named at the 35th annual James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony June 16 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
The Beard Awards recognize exceptional talent and achievement in the culinary arts, hospitality, media, and broader food system, as well as a demonstrated commitment to equity, community and sustainability, according to its mission.
Although he didn't make the James Beard finalist cut, DiMeo was already a winner this year when Bardea Food & Drink was named in February as one of the best 44 restaurants in America, according to USA TODAY's 2025 Restaurant of the Year list.
Even though he won't be headed to Chicago this spring as a finalist, it's still a busy time for DiMeo and fellow Bardea co-owner Scott Stein.
Along with the already established Bardea Food & Drink, Bardea Steak and The Garden, they recently opened Casa Nonna in the DE.CO food hall, a sit-down restaurant that serves homespun Italian dishes in a nod to the ones DiMeo's grandmother would make.
The February opening came as Bardea Restaurant Group took over food hall operations from its original operator, Wilmington-based real estate developers Buccini Pollin Group.
Also at DE.CO, new Bardea-led food stalls have appeared in recent weeks.
They include the upscale casual Mediterranean eatery named Sumac serving salads, pitas and bowls featuring grilled or spicy honey chicken, tuna, falafel and more. Also, a cafe called Bean by Bardea offering croissants, pastries, cookies, cakes, brownies, cupcakes, doughnuts and other sweets.
They join Bardea's already established DE.CO spots Pizzeria Bardea and Taqueria el Chingon.
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Next up for Bardea will be Roost Pub & Kitchen, slated to open later this spring at the former Stitch House Brewing (829 N. Market St.)
Stein has said diners should expect a menu of "elevated comfort foods" such as flatbreads, chicken tenders, sandwiches, burgers, salads, nachos and wings.
Have a story idea? Contact Ryan Cormier of Delaware Online/The News Journal at rcormier@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2863. Follow him on Facebook (@ryancormier) and X (@ryancormier).
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: James Beard Award finalists named; Delaware shut out this year
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