Bernbach plans to feel out Proof before charging ahead. After a brief hiatus from the bar, mixologist Adam Bernbach, a twice-decorated City Paper Best of D.C. winner, takes up the shaker again tonight as he begins his latest gig as bar manager at Proof, the wine-centric Penn Quarter restaurant, which is suddenly cocktail cool, too. [...]

The James Beard Foundation has released its massive list of semi-finalists [PDF] in the restaurant and chef categories, and the D.C. area has plenty of contenders. So far, at least. It's a bit early to get too pump over this list, which was whittled down from more than 15,000 entries. At present, many of the [...]