Yesterday the James Beard Foundation announced the nominees for the 2012 James Beard Awards, and, once again, it is absolutely packed with Chicago chefs and writers. The announcement was especially good news for Next and its executive chef Dave Beran, as it picked up nominations for Best New Restaurant and Rising Star Chef of the Year. You can check out the full list of nominees (pdf), but below is a list of all the local nominees.

2012 James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards

Best New Restaurant

• Next, Chicago

Rising Star Chef of the Year

• Dave Beran, Next

Outstanding Bar Program

• The Aviary
• The Violet Hour

Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)

• Michael Carlson, Schwa
• Stephanie Izard, Girl & the Goat
• Bruce Sherman, North Pond
• Andrew Zimmerman, Sepia

Outstanding Service

• Spiaggia
• Topolobampo

Outstanding Pastry Chef

• Mindy Segal, Mindy's Hot Chocolate Chicago

Outstanding Chef

• Paul Kahan, Blackbird

2012 James Beard Foundation Who's Who of Food & Beverage in America Inductees

• Grant Achatz, Chef and Author

2012 James Beard Foundation Humanitarian of the Year

• Charlie Trotter, Chef and Restaurateur

Broadcast Media Journalism Award Nominations

Special/Documentary (Television or Video Webcast)

• Sky Full of Bacon, Michael Gebert

Television Segment

• The Hungry Hound, Steve Dolinsky

Food-Related Columns

• Kevin Pang, Chicago Tribune, "Hole in My Heart," "Supper Club Culture," "So Sue Me"

Health and Well-Being

• Janet Rausa Fuller, Chicago Sun-Times, "Starting from Scratch"

Radio Show/Audio Webcast

• Fear of Frying: Culinary Nightmares, Nina Barrett, WBEZ
• From Bread Lines to Revolution: The Role of Food in the Arab Uprisings, Jerome McDonnell, WBEZ