The JWU Zest Awards celebrates Miami's growing culinary industry and honors some of the most accomplished culinary and beverage experts in our city. “This year’s nominations have helped shape Miami’s thriving for and restaurant scene, and they are all well worth recognition” says Bruce Ozga , Dean of Culinary Education at Johnson & Wales University’s North Miami Campus.

The winners of 2015 Best Restaurant, Best Bar/Lounge, Baking and Pastry Innovator, Culinary Innovator, Newcomer of the Year and the newly added Best Boutique Restaurant and Best Wine Program category will be selected by an advisory board and faculty at Johnson & Wales University’s College of Culinary Arts. The winners of the Reader’s Choice - Best Food Blogger and Reader’s Choice – Best Food Reporting in Traditional Media awards will be selected by the voting public.

Additionally, this year will honor Michelle Bernstein with the Community Leader Award for her contributions to the community. Bernstein is currently the chef/owner of Crumb on Parchment and Executive Chef of Seagrape at the recently opened Thompson Miami Beach.

The Zest Awards will honor nominees for their individual accomplishments in a variety of disciplines including:

Best Restaurant
Area 31
Bourbon Steak at the Turnberry Isle Resort
Edge Steak & Bar
Makoto Bal Harbor
Palme d’Or at the Biltmore Hotel
Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill

Best Boutique Restaurant
Blackbrick Chinese
Bread & Butter
Drunken Dragon
The Federal
Hiro’s Yakko-San
MC Kitchen
Sakaya Kitchen
Whisk

Best Bar/Lounge
Blackbird Ordinary
Broken Shaker at Freehand Miami
db Bistro Miami
Khong River House
St.Regis Bar at the St.Regis Bal Harbour
Swine

Best Wine Program
The Biltmore
The Dutch at W South Beach
Grazianos
The Setai
St. Regis
Uvaggio
Zuma

Baking and Pastry Innovator
Antonio Bachour, St. Regis Bal Harbour
Jerome Maure, db Bistro Miami
Jason Morale, Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill
Zak Stern, Zak the Baker
Keith Wallace, Four Season Miami

Culinary Innovator
Tim Andriola, Timo and Basil Park
John Kunkel, 50 Eggs
Michael Schwartz, The Genuine Hospitality Group
Jose Mendin, Pubbelly Group
Danny Serfer, Blue Collar and Mignonette

Newcomer of the Year
1826
Basil Park
L’Echon
Mignonette
Oolite
Touche at E11EVEN

Reader’s Choice Best Food Blogger
Adventures of the Foodaholic
Burger Beast
Food for Thought
Lee2Go
Miami Dish
Miami Food Pug
The Hungry Post

South Florida Food and Wine Reader’s Choice Best Food Reporting
ChatChow
Eater Miami
Edible South Florida
Indulge
Miami.com
The Miami Herald
MIAMI Modern Luxury Magazine
Ocean Drive Magazine
Short Order (Miami New Times)
South Florida Gourmet