(KRON) – The esteemed James Beard Award nominees have been announced and multiple Bay Area restaurants and chefs are in the running to hold a prestigious title.  Per James Beard’s website, the awards "recognize exceptional talent and achievement in the culinary arts, hospitality, media, and br oader food system.” For the Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service award, beverage director Jacob Brown of the two-Michelin-starred San Francisco Lazy Bear is nominated. According to Lazy Bear, the restaurant serves modern American food inspired by the wild and nostalgia. Last year, the eatery scored its first Wine Spectator award due to its variety of pricey wines that originate from areas of California. Photo By Liz Hafalia/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images Jack London Square wine shop, minimo, to close permanently The owners of Atomic Workshop, Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski, were nominated for Outstanding Restaurateur. The Atomic Workshop is responsible for The Anchovy Bar, State Bird Provisions, and The Progress, which are all in San Francisco.  Wine and seafood bar, Anchovy Bar, specializes in West Coast seafood, whereas State Bird Provisions, focuses on, well, California’s state bird, the quail. The once silent film theater, The Progress, was converted into a restaurant in 2014. This “whole animal, whole vegetable philosophy” eatery has won a James Beard award for Best Chef in the West 10 years ago.  The California Award for Best Chef has two SF entries: Richard Lee from Saison and Kosuke Tada from Mijoté. ...read more read less