The Urban Oyster, Charleston, Clavel represent Baltimore in the semifinals

The Urban Oyster opened a new storefront on The Avenue in Hampden in February. STAFF FILE

Several Maryland chefs and food industry professionals reached the semifinals in the 2025 James Beard Awards, the foundation announced Wednesday.

Three Maryland chefs are among the semifinalists for the title of Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic: Jasmine Norton, of The Urban Oyster; Michael Correll of Ruse in St. Michaels; and Fernando González of 2Fifty BBQ in Riverdale and Washington.

Two honorees are being recognized on the beverage side of the food-service industry. Acclaimed fine dining restaurant Charleston is a semifinalist in the Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program category. Chef Cindy Wolf, who now heads Charleston without former business partner Tony Foreman, has been a finalist for Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic in 2006, 2008 and 2014 though 2019.

Dre Levon, of Baltimore taqueria Clavel, has reached the semifinals in the Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service category, one of three new drink-focused categories the awards created this year “in recognition of the ever-evolving independent restaurant landscape.”

Clavel has been in the semifinals for its bar program in 2019 and 2020 but was nominated for Outstanding Bar last year. Its chef, Carlos Raba, reached the semifinals for Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic in 2022.

The 2025 award nominees will be announced in April before the Chef Awards ceremony in June.

Have a news tip? Contact Racquel Bazos at [e-mail], 443-813-0770 or on X as @rzbworks.