Dogfish Head's Calagione scores seventh James Beard nomination

Is seven the lucky number for Dogfish Head's Sam Calagione?

Calagione, founder of the Milton craft brewery, has just received his seventh consecutive James Beard Award finalist nomination in the category of most outstanding Wine, Beer, or Spirits Professional. The award is given to a beer, wine, or spirits professional who has made a significant national impact on the restaurant industry.

The James Beard Foundation announced the nominees for the 2017 James Beard Foundation Awards today during a breakfast in Los Angeles, California. The awards are considered the country's most prestigious beverage/culinary arts honors.

Calagione will be competing against fellow nominees Diane Flynt of Foggy Ridge Cider in Dugspur, Virginia; Miljenko Grgich of Grgich Hills Estate in Rutherford, California; Aldo Sohm of New York City's Zalto Glass; and Rob Tod of Allagash Brewing Company in Portland, Maine.

Calagione of Lewes is the lone beverage and culinary professional representing Delaware. He and his wife Mariah opened the brewery in 1995. Calagione has often joked that he frequent nominations - and losses - at the James Beard gala have made him the "Susan Lucci" of the ceremony.

While Dwain Kalup from Wilmington's Domaine Hudson and Calagione's new Rehoboth Beach restaurant Chesapeake & Maine were recognized as James Beard Award semifinalists in February, they did not make it onto the finalists round.

Kalup, the top toque in the kitchen at Domaine Hudson on Washington Street, was honored in the Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic category and Chesapeake & Maine on recognized for its innovative bar program.  The year-old seafood eatery on Rehoboth Avenue makes cocktails using distilled spirits created by Dogfish Head and serves many creative DFH beers.

The Mid-Atlantic region category, once of the most competitive, includes chefs from Washington, D.C.; Delaware, Maryland; New Jersey; Pennsylvania; and Virginia.

This year's finalists include Amy Brandwein of Centrolina in Washington, D.C; Tom Cunanan of Bad Saint in Washington, D.C.; Rich Landau of Vedge in Philadelphia; Greg Vernick of Philadelphia's Vernick Food & Drink; and Cindy Wolf of Charleston in Baltimore.

Winner of the Restaurant and Chef Awards will be announced on May 1 in Chicago. A James Beard Foundation event honoring the nation's top cookbook authors, culinary broadcast producers and hosts, and food journalists is April 25 in New York City.

A complete list of nominees can be found at  jamesbeard.org/awards.

Contact Patricia Talorico at (302) 324-2861 or ptalorico@delawareonline.com and on Twitter @pattytalorico