While the Academy Awards are over, the Oscars of the restaurant world are still to come. This year, nearly 20 chefs, restaurants, bakers and bars around Massachusetts are among the semifinalists for the James Beard Awards.

Jim Braude is joined by three of these semifinalists: Haley Fortier, the owner and operator of haley.henry and nathálie; Tiffani Faison, the owner and chef of Sweet Cheeks, Tiger Mama and Fool’s Errand; and Seizi Imura, the owner and chef of Café Sushi.