Movie has the Academy Awards, music has the Grammys and food has the James Beard Awards.
Over the weekend, the food industry’s prestigious awards returned after a two-year hiatus. On Saturday and Sunday, media and leadership awards were presented to authors, journalists and changemakers. The flagship ceremony honoring the Restaurant and Chef Award winners took place Monday at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Mashama Bailey of the Gray in Savannah, Georgia was named Outstanding Chef and Chris Bianco of Tratto, Pane Bianco and Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix was named Outstanding Restaurateur. Chai Pani in Asheville, North Carolina was named Outstanding Restaurant.
Owamni of the Sioux Chef in Minneapolis, owned by Chef Sean Sherman and Dana Thompson, was named Best New Restaurant. Edgar Rico of Nixta Taqueria in Austin, Texas has won the Emerging Chef award.
Author and activist Grace Young has been recognized as Humanitarian of the Year for her work to save America’s Chinatowns and Martin Yan, the “Yan Can Cook” TV chef and cookbook author, received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Kwame Onwuachi, who was named Rising Star Chef in 2019, hosted the ceremony this year. Presenters included Dominique Crenn, Marcus Samuelsson, Andrew Zimmern and many other industry stars.
“As we know, a James Beard Award can transform a career or business, and as we move forward from the pandemic, this weekend was a significant opportunity to lift the independent restaurant community as a whole and do great work across the country” said Onwuachi.
The first James Beard Foundation’s Restaurant and Chef Awards were presented in 1991.
James Beard Restaurant and Chef Award 2022 winners:
Outstanding Restaurant Owner: Chris Bianco, Tratto, Pane Bianco and Pizzeria Bianco, Phoenix Outstanding Chef: Mashama Bailey, The Grey, Savannah, Georgia Outstanding Restaurant: Chai Pani, Asheville, North Carolina Emerging Chef: Edgar Rico, Nixta Taqueria, Austin, Texas Best New Restaurant: Owamni, Minneapolis Outstanding Pastry Shop: Warda Bouguettaya, Warda Pâtisserie, Detroit Outstanding Bakery: Don Guerra, Barrio Bread, Tucson, Arizona Outstanding Hospitality: Curate, Asheville, North Carolina Outstanding Wine Program: The Four Horsemen, New York Outstanding bar program: Julep, Houston
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Dear chefs, by region
Best Chef California: Brandon Jew, Mister Jiu’s, San FranciscoBest Chef Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH): Erick Williams, Virtue Restaurant & Bar, ChicagoBest Chef Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA ): Cristina Martinez, South Philly Barbacoa, PhiladelphiaBest Chef Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI): Dane Baldwin, The Diplomat, MilwaukeeBest Chef Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY) : Caroline Glover, Annette, Aurora, ColoradoBest Chef New York State: Chintan Pandya, Dhamaka, New YorkBest Chef Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT): Nisachon Morgan, Saap, Randolph, VermontBest Chef Northwest and Pacific ( AK, HI, OR, WA): Robynne Maii, Fête, Honolulu Best Chef Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV): Ricky Moore, SALTBOX Seafood Joint, Durham, North Carolina Best Chef South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS, PR): Adam Evans, Automatic Seafood and Oysters, Birmingham, Alabama Best Chef Southwest (AZ, NM, NV, OK): Fernando Olea, Sazón, Santa Fe, New Mexico Best Chef Texas: Iliana de la Vega , El Naranjo, Austin, Texas
America’s Classics
This committee-chosen award is given to establishments in six of the 12 Restaurant and Chef Award regions with timeless appeal:
The Busy Bee Cafe in Atlanta. Owner: Tracy GatesCasa Vega in Sherman Oaks, California. Owner: Christy VegaCorinne’s Place in Camden, New Jersey. Owner: Corinne Bradley-PowersFlorence’s Restaurant in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Owner: Florence KempSolly’s Grille in Milwaukee. Owner: Glenn FieberWo Hop in New York. Owners: Huang Family
