Despite making it to the finals in the Best Chef South and Outstanding Pastry Chef categories, Jeff McInnis of Yardbird in South Beach and Hedy Goldsmithof Miami’s Michael’s Genuine group didn’t get top honors. Only Venezuelan architect Alejandro Barrios-Carrero got the nod for his stunning rooftop design of Juvia in Miami Beach.

We are getting closer, though. Along with McInnis, our own Clay Conley (Buccan in Palm Beach) and Jose Mendin of Pubbelly in Miami made the semifinals of Best Chef South, and Giorgio Rpaicavoli of Eating House in Coral Gables earned a semifinal spot in the Rising Star Chef of the Year category.

As they say in baseball, wait ‘til next year. . .