Two returnees, one newbie, represent New Hampshire on James Beard semifinalist list – Manchester Ink Link

MANCHESTER, NH – Two New Hampshire repeat nominees and one new addition are among the James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Award semifinalists announced this week.

The James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards, presented since 1991, celebrate excellence across all types of dining experiences, from fine dining to casual establishments. The New Hampshire establishments recognized this week are among 38 semifinalists across New England named in 25 categories.

Super Secret Ice Cream, of Bethlehem, and chef Lee Frank, who owns Otis in Exeter, were both semifinalists, though each with a twist, last year. Nicole Nocella, owner and chef at Stalk, in Dover, is a newcomer to the Best Chef Northeast Region category.

Super Secret Ice Cream is one of 20 semifinalists in the Outstanding Bakery category, which recognizes “bakers of bread, pastries, or desserts that demonstrate consistent excellence in food, atmosphere, hospitality, and operations.”  

Kristina Zontini, of Super Secret, was named a semifinalist for outstanding pastry chef or baker last  year.

The shop, at 2213 Main St. in Bethlehem, makes its own ice cream base with local milk and cream from neighboring farm Hatchland Dairy. “We don’t use flavored syrups or artificial anything,” Super Secret says on its website. “Everything that goes into our ice cream is made in our kitchen or sourced through partnerships with local farms.”

Super Secret Ice Cream, which began as a food cart, opened its bricks and mortar location in 2022 with a takeout window, and then as a full ice cream shop in early 2023. It operates year-round.

After Kontini was nominated last year, she told New Hampshire Magazine, “We feel really lucky, and I hope it sheds light on ice cream as a craft. Also, our area is really cool, and I don’t think New Hampshire is represented enough — and there’s some really cool female-owned businesses in our town, and surrounding towns.”

Lee Frank, owner of Otis Restaurant in Exeter is a semifinalist for Best Chef Northeast Region, but as owner and chef of Lee Frank’s in South Berwick and Wells, Maine. 

Last year, Frank was named a semifinalist in the same category, but in his role at Otis.

Lee Frank’s opened in South Berwick in 2021, and Frank plans to open a third Lee Frank’s location in Exeter soon, according to the restaurant website. The hot dog and burger restaurant harkens back to the chef’s early culinary days in California, he said.

“I am incredibly humbled and honored to be named a James Beard Semifinalist for Best Chef Northeast, let alone for a second time,” Frank posted on his Facebook page. “The talent throughout New England is amazing and being mentioned next to any of these names is truly an honor. Congratulations to all those nominated and all those that work so hard and are so talented!”

Nocella, chef and owner of Stalk, at 286 Central Ave., in Dover, is also one of 20 Best Chef semifinalists in the Northeast Region, which includes the six New England states. Stalk is celebrating its fifth anniversary this month.

The category recognizes chefs who “set high standards in their culinary skills and leadership abilities and who are making efforts to help create a sustainable work culture in their respective regions, while contributing positively to their broader community.”

“I am absolutely floored & over humbled by receiving the news of being nominated for a Semi Finalist James Beard Award!,” Nocella said in a post on Stalk’s Facebook page. “Thank you  for the amazing support & love shown for my cooking over the years! Can’t Wait to Cheers you all!”

The James Beard Foundation accepts nominees for its awards during an online open call in October and November. Candidates for restaurant awards must be establishments (restaurants, pop-ups, or food trucks) that serve food and are open to the public. They must be reasonably accessible to the public and be open for business (or accept and fill orders) a minimum of twice a month. Nominated individuals must be actively making food or beverages that are available  to the public. A subcommittee of judges reviews nominees, including a tasting period, and votes on semifinalists, as well as finalists.

Finalists for the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards are announced April 2, and the winners are announced June 16, at an awards ceremony that will be held at Lyric Opera, in Chicago.

This year, in honor of the 35th anniversary of the awards as well as “in recognition of the ever-evolving independent restaurant landscape,” there were three new categories as part of an expanded focus on beverages: Best New Bar, Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service, and Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service. The James Beard Foundation lists all the semifinalists on its website.