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°ÄÃŲÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼½á¹û North Miami’s College of Culinary Arts has announced finalists for the fifth annual °ÄÃŲÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼½á¹û ZEST™ Awards, which will showcase and honor leaders in culinary arts in Miami. The 2016 winners will be announced Wednesday, March 16 during a private reception to be held on campus.

Nominees Include Impressive Group of Newcomers
The winners for Best Restaurant, Best New Restaurant, Best Boutique Restaurant, Best Bar/Lounge, Best Wine Program, Baking and Pastry Innovator and Culinary Innovator will be selected by an advisory board of industry leaders and faculty from the College of Culinary Arts.

Additionally, °ÄÃŲÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼½á¹û administration will recognize Rev. Ronald Brummitt, president of , with the Community Leader Award for his dedication to feeding the hungry and homeless in South Florida. New to the line-up this year, the public will have the opportunity to vote for the winners of the Eater’s Choice “Big Food Moment” award.

“Miami continues to command attention for the creativity and staying power of some of our greatest restaurants,” said Bruce Ozga, °ÄÃŲÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼½á¹û North Miami dean of culinary education. “We’re proud to count a number of recurring nominees and winners among an impressive group of newcomers in this year's awards.”

Vote for Miami's Big Food Moment
Go to °ÄÃŲÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼½á¹û.edu/ZEST for a complete list of 2016 nominees, as well as past winners, which include Timon Balloo, executive chef of Sugarcane, award-winning Chef Michelle Bernstein, the Pubbelly Group and Chef Allen Susser.

This year’s nominees include:

• Best Restaurant: AZUL and Hakkasan
• Best New Restaurant: Alter and Cena by Michy’s
• Culinary Innovator: Michelle Bernstein '94, '03 Hon.

Eater’s Choice “Big Food Moment” can be voted on by fans between February 2 and March 1 at °ÄÃŲÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼½á¹û.edu/ZEST. These include:

• Michelle Bernstein reopens Michy’s as Cena
• The Lunchbox, Miami's first zero waste restaurant, opens
• The Seed Wine & Food Festival returns after a successful first year

Explore the whole list and vote at °ÄÃŲÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼½á¹û.edu/ZEST.

Join the conversation via social media by and by tagging °ÄÃŲÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼½á¹û North Miami’s Twitter handle, .