By Gail Ciampa
Rhode Island restaurants and chefs earned four semi-finalist spots in the James Beard Foundation Awards announced today.
Persimmon, the Bristol restaurant, earned two nominations for owners Champe and Lisa Speidel. Champe was nominated for Best Chef Northeast while the restaurant was named for Outstanding Service.
Farmstead Inc., the Providence restaurant, owned by Matt and Kate Jennings, won Matt a Best Chef Northeast nomination for the third time.
Cook and Brown Public House, the Providence restaurant owned by Nemo Bolin, was nominated for Best Bar Program for the second year in a row. Last year was the first for the category. The restaurant was also nominated in the best new category in 2011. Jennifer Ferreira is the bar manager.