The James Beard Foundation has just announced its nominations for culinary excellence.

The awards ceremony and gala will be handed out on Monday, May 7, 2007 at the Avery Fisher Hall in the Lincoln Center in NYC at 6pm.

The media awards and dinner will be at the Hudson Theater in the Millenium Broadway Hotel on Sunday, May 6th at 5:30pm.

The categories include cookbooks, photography, newspaper writers, radio shows, critics, magazine writers, websites, restaurant design, restaurateur of the year, best restaurant, outstanding chef, rising star and the list goes on.

Quite a few writers from Gourmet magazine received nominations, Tyler Coleman from Dr. Vino’s Wine blog, food segments from the CBS Morning Show, The Martha Stewart Show, and Tom Colicchio from Top Chef and owner or Craft Restaurants.

For the full list of nominees click here and stay tuned to Foodie Obsessed for highlights of nominees and the awards.