The James Beard Foundation released its scroll of semifinalists for restaurant awards across the country on Wednesday, and Five & Ten is among the "Outstanding Restaurant" nominees again.

This category is a bigger deal than the regional ones, which are organized by chef rather than specific restaurant, and which Hugh Acheson won in 2012. It means a restaurant in our relatively small town is competing against ones from all over the country. Once again, Five & Ten is the only restaurant in Georgia nominated in this category.

Other Georgia nominees include The Federal (Atlanta, Best New Restaurant, operated by Shaun Doty and Lance Gummere), Sarah O'Brien at The Little Tart (Atlanta, Outstanding Baker), Kimball House (Decatur, Outstanding Bar Program), Eddie Hernandez and Mike Klank of Taqueria del Sol (Oustanding Restaurateur), Aria (Atlanta, Outstanding Service), Empire State South (Atlanta, Outstanding Wine Program), Brian So of Spring (Marietta, Rising Star Chef of the Year), Billy Allin of Cakes & Ale (Decatur, Outstanding Chef, Southeast), Kevin Gillespie of Gunshow (Atlanta, Outstanding Chef, Southeast), Ri Liu of Masterpiece (Duluth, Outstanding Chef, Southeast), Steven Satterfield of Miller Union (Atlanta, Outstanding Chef, Southeast) and Ryan Smith of Staplehouse (Atlanta, Outstanding Chef, Southeast.

The awards will be presented May 1, in Chicago.