NH chef, bakery named James Beard semifinalists

Kristina Zontini, the owner of Super Secret Ice Cream in Bethlehem, is a James Beard award semifinalist. Photo courtesy of Kristina Zontini.

By Granite Post Staff

January 27, 2025

Shoutout to a Granite State bakery and chef named among the 2025 James Beard Award semifinalists on Wednesday! The annual awards are some of the nation’s most prestigious honors in the culinary industry.

Super Secret Ice Cream in Bethlehem earned a spot as a semifinalist in the bakery category. This marks the second time owner Kristina Zontini has been recognized. She was a semifinalist last year in the outstanding pastry chef category.
Nicole Nocella, the chef at Stalk in Dover, was named a semifinalist in the best chef Northeast category. “I am absolutely floored & over humbled by receiving the news of being nominated for a Semi Finalist James Beard Award,” Nocella said on Stalk’s Instagram. “Thank you for the amazing support & love shown for my cooking over the years! Can’t Wait to Cheers you all!”

Learn more about her in this Restaurant Unstoppable podcast episode.

Winners in each category will be announced on April 2 and celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on June 16 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. They’ll each receive a certificate and a medallion engraved with the James Beard Foundation Awards insignia.

See more finalists here.