5 SoCal chefs, service professional and restaurants make 2025 James Beard Awards finalists
The 2025 James Beard restaurant and chef award nominees were announced this week, and a handful of the best in the nation are in Los Angeles and Orange County.
Often referred to as "the Oscars of food," the winners will be revealed at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on June 16 in Chicago.
Long Beach's Gusto Bread was nominated in the Outstanding Bakery category, meeting the high mark of "a baker of breads, pastries, or desserts that demonstrates consistent excellence in food, atmosphere, hospitality, and operations."
In the Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program, Strong Water in Anaheim made the nominated list of five, demonstrating "exceptional care and skill in the pairing of wine and other beverages with food," among other attributes.
Best Chef: California nominations included Jon Yao, of Kato Los Angeles and Daniel Castillo of Heritage Barbecue in San Juan Capistrano. Tobin Shea, at Redbird Los Angeles, was one of five people nominated for Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service.
Established in 1990, with the first awards given in 1991, the James Beard Awards are one of the most prestigious culinary honors in the nation.
"On behalf of the Awards committee and the Restaurant and Chef Awards and Beverage Awards subcommittees, congratulations to our 2025 honorees and nominees! We're especially excited to recognize the first nominees of our three new beverage-focused categories—highlighting the vital role these professionals play in the culinary and hospitality industries," said Chef Elizabeth Falkner.
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Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
I compared Whispering Angel wine to Lidl's £11 cheaper dupe (but which is best?)
Lidl is a supermarket known for its dupes of specific food and drink items, and that's been no different this year when they launched their Breath of Paradise rosé wine. This 75cl light pink concoction costs £10.99 per bottle and was made as an alternative to Whispering Angel. Produced by Château d'Esclans it is made from choice grapes in the Esclans Valley and the Cotes de Provence region. It has proved to be quite a popular option for the summer season, but it's not exactly cheap. Most sites I've found list it for around £22.50, which is what I picked it up for from Ocado. While I am not a massive wine drinker, the fact that Lidl had prioritised quite a bit of their marketing for Breath of Paradise in highlighting it as an alternative to Whispering Angel begged for a comparison to be done. Both wines are bottled in France, with Lidl's option being made from grenache, syrah and cinsault grapes, so it would be interesting to see if that made enough of a difference in the taste. For Lidl, a £10.99 wine is expensive for them, so it still had a lot to live up to, but the emphasis was still on Whispering Angel to justify the extra cost. As mentioned previously, I am not a big wine drinker, but I have slowly progressed from liking prosecco to white wine and rosé every now and again. I'm still not quite there with red wine yet, but I hope in the next few years my palate expands a bit and becomes more sophisticated. After purchasing the wines, it was interesting to see how much inspiration Lidl had taken in the design of the bottle. The two bottles were very similar in design (Image: Newsquest) The gold seal, white label, calligraphic writing and crest in the centre of the bottle all added up to a very similar overview. While the design was very close, how would the taste compare? I decided to try the Whispering Angel first, as it was the original, and there was a bit of trouble in getting the cork out. In my first go of it, the corkscrew got in, but then partially disintegrated the cork in the attempt to pull it out. The Whispering Angel was crisp and went down smoothly (Image: Newsquest) A second attempt was more successful, but it did mean bits of cork were now floating about in the light pink drink. After filtering the wine to make sure we got bits out, it was finally time to give it a taste. It should be said that both wines had been placed in the fridge at the same time, so they were at the same temperature. The wine was crisp, had floral notes in the taste and went down fairly easily. There wasn't much to separate the two wines (Image: Newsquest) I've not had a huge amount of rosé wine in my time, but it seemed decent, although with the price tag attached, it should be. After cleansing my palate with a bit of water (I'm told that's what wine critics do), I then went onto Breath of Paradise. What I found remarkable is outside of some subtle differences in flavour, there really wasn't much to separate them. Recommended reading: I tested Aldi's new 'wine of the summer' and almost lost all my street cred The 3 delightful Rosés from Aldi you don't want to miss and the 1 to avoid The own-brand supermarket wines that beat bottles costing hundreds Both are crisp and go down quite nicely on a warm evening, but there's not a lot to indicate that one is £11 more expensive than the other. Obviously, it should be noted I am not a professional wine critic, and I imagine there are those in the industry who would take my observations with a grain of salt, saying there's plenty to differentiate them. However, the average shopper isn't going to be at that level, and I imagine they might arrive at the same conclusion.
Forbes
2 days ago
- Forbes
Disrupting Tradition: Joe Wagner Pushes Boundaries With Copper Cane Wines
Joe Wagner, CEO and Founder of Copper Cane Wines 'The level of hate mail is finally starting to dissipate,' said Joe Wagner, CEO and Founder of Copper Cane Wines, headquartered in Napa Valley, California. Joe was referring to the response of many of the old guard of winery executives in Napa Valley when he and his team started posting fun-hearted videos of daily activities at his winery to TikTok. These included Joe demonstrating how to put red wax on a bottle of his Belle Glos wine, which garnered more than 150 million views and many positive comments. Even though it is legal for wineries to post and advertise on TikTok as of August 2024, very few wineries have entered this domain yet. 'The other winery owners have told me that I am not upholding the image of wine as it is traditionally represented,' explained Joe when I visited him at their Rutherford winemaking facility, where Joe and his team are currently leasing the facility to produce the wines of Copper Cane: Quilt, Belle Glos, Boen, Threadcount, and Araciel. But being a TikTok wine trailblazer isn't the only disruptive business practice Joe has engaged in. From an early age he has seen and created new businesses, such as the highly successful wine brand, Meiomi, which Joe launched in 2006 and then sold to Constellation for $315 million nine years later. That early success has spawned new wine brands and other business ventures. So when I caught up with Joe, I was curious to learn more about this very successful entrepreneur pushing boundaries and stirring up controversy in the industry. During the course of our conversation, it became apparent that Joe employs a combination of strategies that include utilizing smart financing tactics, listening carefully to consumers, adopting innovative winemaking practices, creating a strong and creative workforce, and staying true to his vision of what makes a good wine. A Bottle of Belle Glos Pinot Noir Wine With Red Wax Seal Growing up in Napa Valley as the fifth generation of a winemaking family, Joe began working in the family vineyards as a teenager. The fact that his father, Chuck Wagner, founded the very successful Caymus winery, allowed Joe to understand how the wine industry works at a very early age. Perhaps it was this strong understanding of the traditional way of running a wine business that allowed him to create new and different models for success. So instead of planting a vineyard and building a winery, Joe decided to purchase grapes from top vineyards in California and Oregon and produce wine in custom crush facilities (leased space) in Napa Valley. This allowed him to save millions of dollars in overhead costs and focus on building his wine brands via strong distributor relationships – a key to success in the wine industry, and something Joe learned working with his father at Caymus. Copper Cane's marketing efforts are led by Jessica Morris working in partnership with Joe. This is the method Joe has used to build all of his wine brands to date, and what made the $315 million sale of Meiomi so unique – because no physical assets came with the brand. However, in the past few years, Joe has been purchasing high-quality vineyards when they came up for sale. 'I believe in investing in vineyards, and we now have over 900 acres of vines in Napa Valley and other locations,' said Joe. If you tune into 'Joe the Winemaker's' Tiktok platform, you will see how the simple video demonstrating how to dip a Belle Glos wine bottle into hot red wax has morphed into a series of videos. These all came about because of comments from viewers and consumers asking if Joe could mold the bottles together in a trio, in a circle, and in other configurations. 'I believe in engaging with consumers and getting them interested in the winemaking process,' stated Joe. 'Many have told me that they enjoy drinking fruity, smooth wines, just like I do. So that's the style of wine I strive for in all my brands.' This consumer-centric focus has paid off because Copper Cane had one of the best growth levels in the wine industry by the end of 2024, according to wine market expert, Danny Brager, of Brager Beverage Alcohol Consulting and Former leader of Nielsen's Beverage Alcohol Practice. Joe and his team are also connecting with consumers in the urban tasting room they opened in downtown Napa along the riverfront. They purchased a historic building and designed a 3-story visitor center that includes a drop-in tasting room and the experiential activity of dripping wine bottles into hot wax. There is also a private event space and a rooftop bar where all of the Copper Cane wine brands are available, called Quilt & Co Tasting Room. 'It is important to let consumers get involved in winemaking – to get their hands dirty,' said Joe. 'It is for this reason that we are planning to build a more immersive experience where people can make their own wine. It will be a membership-based club and people can choose the grapes they want for their wine, help with fermentation, aging, and the whole process.' Copper Cane is currently working on the permits to open this new experiential visitor's center outside the town of Calistoga in Napa Valley. They plan to dig a real wine cave to house the winemaking equipment so visitors can return multiple times to check on the progress of their wine. Other consumer-facing activities include a weekly podcast called 'Go With Your Palate,' which Joe describes as 'about wine, entrepreneurship, and whatever the F else.' This is co-hosted by Chris Rubio, Digital Marketing Manager Meanwhile, Copper Cane has expanded their reach on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube with social impressions now tallying over 1 billion. These efforts are led by in-house Social Media Manager, Sabina Ballestrazze. Roof-Top Patio at Quilt & Co. Tasting Room in Downtown Napa In order to deliver the taste profile that consumers want, the Copper Cane team sources from high-quality vineyards along the West Coast, as well as their own vineyards. However, from this point onwards Joe's winemaking methods deviate abruptly from the norm. 'I like to wait to harvest the grapes when they look like a dimpled golf ball (slight dehydration for concentration) and the canes on the vines have turned a copper hue,' explained Joe. (Thus the name for the company – Copper Cane.) 'This, along with tasting the fruit, tells me that the crop is ready to be harvested with the perfect amount of maturity needed to achieve the wine style we want to make,' Joe continued. At that point the grapes are harvested and immediately frozen in special containers and transported to the winery in Napa. In this way, Copper Cane can source grapes from along the West Coast and keep the fruit fresh before fermentation. This is the method that Joe used to produce his Oregon-based brand El0uan, which caused an uproar in the Oregon wine industry because Joe was transporting Oregon grapes to California to make wine. However, Elouan was recently sold to The Stoller Group, headquartered in Oregon, so the brouhaha over that disruptive move has abated. 'What is great about this method (Cyro-Extraction) is we can keep the grapes frozen as long as we want, and it doesn't hurt the quality of the wine,' explained Joe. 'In fact, it helps us start a long cold ferment that maintains the freshness and fruity aromas of both our red and white wines.' This method also results in creating a smoother texture in the red wines, along with the rich velvety texture that many consumers enjoy in the red wines produced by Copper Cane. Joe Wagner Working in a Napa Valley Vineyard Another important strategy that has helped Copper Cane to be successful is Joe's focus on creating an empowered workforce and maintaining a flat hierarchy. He hires energetic, creative people who are interested in pushing boundaries and experimenting with new marketing ideas. 'We focus on teamwork and try new things. Of course, we have some failures along with successes, but we are learning together.' 'We focus on teamwork and try new things. Of course, we have some failures along with successes, but we are learning together,' said Joe. 'Teamwork is very important.' In addition to an innovative marketing team, Copper Cane employs around 45 people in winemaking operations. 'Since we are freezing the grapes, we can ferment year-round, rather than once a year. Therefore, we need a large team in the cellars,' explained Joe. In touring the very large leased winemaking operation, I met employees who were very excited about the barrels of wine they were making from different vineyards. They talked about the art of blending and described how the bottling line worked. When we finally arrived at the location where the Belle Glos wines receive their telltale red wax, the employees expressed a strong sense of pride over the special waxing robot machine. Joe worked with a company in Italy to design it, and also created a special seal so that consumers can easily open the bottle without destroying the wax. 'Of course, our red wax bottle created a little controversy with other packages like Maker's Mark Bourbon, because they also have red wax bottles. However, we explained to inquiring customers that winemakers have been sealing wine bottles with wax since the 17th century, so we reached an understanding,' said Joe with a grin. Copper Cane wines are widely available in many wine shops, grocery stores, restaurants, and online. Price points range from an entry level price of $22 to luxury-priced wines topping out at $150 for a 750ml bottle. Belle Glos - Named in honor of Joe's grandmother, Lorna Belle Glos Wagner, who loved pinot noir, Belle Glos features rich velvety pinot noir wines from special vineyards throughout California. Also includes still rose and sparkling wines. Prices range from $25 to $85 per bottle. Quilt - Award-winning cabernet sauvignon-based wines from distinctive AVAs within Napa Valley. Prices range from $35 to $150 per bottle. Threadcount - An extension of the Quilt portfolio focused on easy-drinking wines, primarily red blends, with an average bottle price of $22. Böen - A range of chardonnay and pinot noir wines from across California. Prices range from $24 to $45 per bottle. Following is one of the videos on TikTok of Joe the Winemaker.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
World's best airline for 2025 named by Skytrax
It's been a year of historic milestones for a certain Middle Eastern airline. Just weeks after announcing the largest widebody aircraft order in Boeing's history, Qatar Airways is celebrating another huge achievement. The Qatar flag carrier has just been named the winner at this year's Skytrax World Airline Awards, announced on Tuesday at the Paris Air Show. It's the ninth time Qatar Airways has received the honor in the 26-year history of the awards, which are known as the Oscars of the aviation world. 'This recognition is far more than an award, it is a celebration of the passion, precision and purpose that defines who we are as an airline,' said Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, Qatar Airways Group CEO. 'To retain this title in a highly competitive and ever-evolving global industry reflects the relentless efforts across every part of the business, from the frontline to behind the scenes, the passion and commitment of our people continue to set new standards in aviation.' Qatar was also named Best Airline in the Middle East, World's Best Business Class, and Best Business Class Airline Lounge. The awards come after the airline, established in 1993, announced that it was purchasing up to 210 widebody jets, including 130 Dreamliners, and 30 777-9s from Boeing in a historic order last month. 'These accolades reaffirm our ambition not only to lead, but to redefine what exceptional service means in aviation,' added Al-Meer. 'Whether on the ground or in the air, we strive to deliver a seamless, elevated journey that anticipates the needs of our passengers and reflects the highest standards of quality, comfort, and innovation.' Singapore Airlines, a five-time winner of World's Best Airline award, took second place this year, also receiving the award for World's Best Cabin Crew, along with World's Best First Class and the Best Airline in Asia. Hong Kong's flag carrier Cathay Pacific was third, with Dubai's Emirates airline taking fourth place, and Japan's ANA All Nippon Airways taking fifth. Turkish Airlines was sixth, while seventh place went to South Korea's flag carrier Korean Air and France's flag carrier Air France was eighth. Finally, Japan Airlines took ninth position and China's Hainan Airlines rounded out the top 10. 'We welcomed back a large number of previous winners and were also delighted to see new faces and airlines represented here today,' said Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax. 'As is indicated by so many former winning airlines being awarded again, quality consistency is clearly well recognized by customers when they vote for these airlines.' The 'wholly independent and impartial' awards, which began in 1999, saw votes gathered from surveys of around 22.3 million customers, with more than 325 airlines featured this year. Around 500 representatives from airlines around the world attended the gala event in the restored Art Deco terminal of the original Le Bourget Airport, based at the heart of the Paris Air Show, including presidents, CEOs and airline crew. AirAsia was also among the winners, after being named the World's Best Low-Cost Airline, an award the carrier has won year after year since 2010. 'To win the World's Best Low Cost Airline Award for 16 years in a row is nothing short of incredible,' said Tony Fernandes, the airline's CEO and co-founder. 'From flying just 200,000 guests in our first year to aiming to welcome our one billionth guest this year – this journey has been made possible by the unwavering support of our guests, and the tireless dedication of our incredible Allstars.' Virgin Atlantic took the crown for the World's Best Premium Economy Class Airlines 2025, while Thailand's Bangkok Airways was named the World's Best Regional Airline for the ninth year in a row. Low-cost airline IndiGo picked up prizes for Best Airline in India / South Asia, and Best Low-Cost Airline award in the region. And not only did Air Canada win Best Airline in North America, its Toronto Pearson Signature Suite also won the Best Business Class Lounge Dining award. Meanwhile, Ethiopian Airlines was crowned the Best Airline in Africa for the seventh year and Turkish Airlines was named the Best Airline in Europe, as well as World's Best Business Class Onboard Catering and Best Airline in Southern Europe. Saudi Arabia's flag carrier Saudia, formerly known as Saudi Arabian Airlines, took the prize for Best Airline Staff Service in the Middle East. 'This award reflects the dedication of our incredible frontline team and the trust of our guests,' said Ibrahim Al-Omar, director general of Saudia Group. 'While we celebrate this milestone, our journey continues — with bold investments and a clear vision to become one of the world's leading airlines.' 1. Qatar Airways 2. Singapore Airlines 3. Cathay Pacific 4. Emirates 5. ANA All Nippon Airways 6. Turkish Airlines 7. Korean Air 8. Air France 9. Japan Airlines 10. Hainan Airlines 11. Swiss Int'l Air Lines 12. EVA Air 13. British Airways 14. Qantas Airways 15. Lufthansa 16. Virgin Atlantic 17. Saudi Arabian Airlines 18. STARLUX Airlines 19. Air Canada 20. Iberia 1. Singapore Airlines 2. ANA All Nippon Airways 3. Cathay Pacific Airways 4. Garuda Indonesia 5. EVA Air 6. Hainan Airlines 7. Japan Airlines 8. Malaysia Airlines 9. Starlux Airlines 10. Korean Air 1. AirAsia 2. Scoot 3. Indigo 4. Eurowings 5. Vueling Airlines 6. Volotea 7. Transavia 8. Iberia Express 9. Flynas 10. easyJet 1. Bangkok Airways 2. Virgin Australia 3. Porter Airlines 4. Aegean Airlines 5. Azerbaijan Airlines 6. jetBlue Airways 7. Alaska Airlines 8. Hong Kong Airlines 9. RwandAir 10. Royal Air Maroc 1. EVA Air 2. ANA All Nippon Airways 3. Cathay Pacific Airways 4. Qatar Airways 5. Singapore Airlines 6. Hainan Airlines 7. Starlux Airlines 8. Japan Airlines 9. Korean Air 10. China Southern The full list of winners can be found on the Skytrax website
