FINE DINING
The nominees have been announced and the culinary world waits on pins and needles to find out who will win a James Beard Award at the annual ceremony in May. At CITY, we can’t help but mention that we highlighted many of these talented chefs and restaurants in last year’s Dining and Entertaining issue.

Once again, CITY contributing editor Jean-Georges Vongerichten, who writes our mouth-watering Fast Food recipe each month, has been nominated, with nods this year for Outstanding Restaurateur and Outstanding Restaurant for Jean Georges. In last year's issue, Chef Vongerichten presented four delicious summer recipes. Click here to try them at home.

And what about the rest? Read up about these restaurants across the country, book a reservation, and judge for yourself:

Alinea, Chicago: Grant Achatz for Outstanding Chef. Writer Eva Hagberg's trip to this Chicago favorite was like falling down a rabbit hole. Click here to read more.

Café Boulud, New York: Gavin Kaysen for Rising Star Chef of the Year. Just before Kaysen left El Bizcocho in San Diego last year to come to New York, we asked him to design a meal for his "dream" customer. His choice? Martin Luther King, Jr. His menu? Grilled Day Boat Sea Scallops with Wilted Baby Arugula, Raisin and Caper Chutney, and Bacon Pan Jus. No wonder he was nominated. Click here to read more.

CityZen, Washington, DC: Eric Ziebold for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic. Just about the only thing anyone can agree on in Washington is that this District spot is a winner. Click here to read more.

Frasca Food and Wine, Boulder: Bobby Stuckey for Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional and Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson for Best Chef: Southwest. Vino and fresh ingredients come together in the Rockies. Click here to read more.

Lotus of Siam, Las Vegas: Saipin Chutima for Best Chef: Southwest. You'll never hit up the buffet line at Caesar's again. Click here to read more.

Sona, Los Angeles: David Myers for Best Chef: Pacific. What should be on every chef's reading list? David Myers let us know. Click here to read more.

Adour Alain Ducasse, New York
Rockwell Group, featured in CITY’s Luxury Issue, for Outstanding Restaurant Design
Click here to read more.

SHOOT CITY MAGAZINE'S NEXT TRAVEL ISSUE COVER
Admit it: On your last vacation you took that one perfect photo—a picture so beautiful, so stunning that you still swear it's good enough for the cover of a travel magazine. Well here's your chance to prove yourself right. CITY's second-annual ONE CITY, MANY DESTINATIONS travel photography contest boasts the ultimate grand prize: CITY’s cover shot. Amateur and professional photographers from around the world are invited to submit for juried competition images that best capture a unique moment in the life of a city or other travel destination. A jury of internationally renowned photography and travel aficionados will pick one winning image to appear on the cover of CITY’s Fall ’08 Travel issue, on sale September 30, 2008.

The grand-prize winner will also receive a prize package that includes an all-inclusive, week-long trip for two to Austria. The Austrian Tourist Office will pick up the tab on the whole experience—from round-trip airfare to rooms at luxury hotels to dinner at the top restaurants in Vienna, Salzburg, and wherever else your journey might take you. The best part? While in Austria, the grand-prize winner will have the opportunity to shoot a sponsored-editorial travel photography story for CITY's 2009 Spring Travel issue.

The work of 15 additional finalists will appear in a special travel photography portfolio inside CITY’s Fall ’08 Travel issue. All finalists will win additional prizes. Last year, CITY received more than 4,000 entries to the inaugural contest, with New York–based photographer Konstantino Hatzissaros’ stunning image of two Burmese monks (above) winning the coveted spot on CITY’s cover.

To enter this year's contest, visit www.city-magazine.com/photocontest