Latest news with #RestaurantandChefAwards
Eater
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Eater
2 Twin Cities Restaurants and Chefs Win James Beard Awards
Last night, the James Beard Foundation announced the winners of its Restaurant and Chef Awards, with two Twin Cities restaurants taking home awards for Best New Restaurant and Best Chef: Midwest. The Monday, June 16, ceremony at the Lyric Opera of Chicago also included new categories to honor the beverage industry, including Best New Bar, Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service, and Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service. Find the full list of the 2025 James Beard Award winners here. Karyn Tomlinson, of Myriel in St. Paul, won in the Best Chef: Midwest category. Tomlinson quickly became known for her 'grandma cooking nouveau' style at Myriel after opening in 2021, combining her Scandinavian/Minnesotan heritage and French culinary training. Alluding to that 'grandma chic' cooking, Tomlinson dressed up in the same coral dress her grandmother wore when she was crowned the 'dazzle corn queen' in 1941, part of a celebration marking the University of Minnesota's efforts to identify cold-tolerant corn crops for Minnesota. She ended her acceptance speech with some Midwest pride, saying 'the Midwest is beautiful, the Midwest is diverse, the Midwest is tenacious and strong.' Bûcheron won the Best New Restaurant category, with co-owner Jeanie Janas Ritter accepting the Kingfield bistro's national award. Bûcheron was one of 10 nominees in the category, and the only restaurant from the Midwest and Great Lakes regions. (The only other Minnesota restaurant ever nominated in the category was Owamni, which brought home the award in 2022.) 'It's the neighborhood restaurant we always wanted in our neighborhood,' Jeanie Ritter said during her acceptance speech, adding that some of her guests have come out to Chicago to celebrate with them tonight and thanking them 'for making it possible to do what we love.' She and her husband Adam Ritter spoke to Eater earlier this month about how they built the 'Midwest French' restaurant so they could spend more time with their two toddlers. Fresh off the stage, Ritter shared with Eater that several customers and friends joined her in Chicago for the awards. 'We had regulars fly here and get tickets to be with us. We have my dear mentor who just passed away, her husband and best friend surprised us, which is just — I'm still trying to wrap my head around it,' she said. 'We have the best community, and we are so grateful for them.' As for what she and Bûcheron's supporters would be doing on Monday night to celebrate: 'Oh man, hopefully we're not going to get as drunk as we did last night, but it might be unavoidable. We're having fun.' In her speech, Ritter said that, 'Minnesota cuisine is defined by the ingredients rather than the technique.' It was a sentiment echoed by Tomlinson during a post-win interview in the press room. She was proud of both Myriel and Bûcheron's wins as both are 'proudly Minnesotan and Midwestern and are exploring that in different ways in our connections with farmers.' She hopes that the Midwest will be recognized more in the future for its diversity and the many cultures that define the cuisine of the heartland. Bar Brava did not take home a Beard in the new Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program. (Charleston in Baltimore brought home the win.) At the Media Awards on Saturday, June 14, Vinai chef Yia Vang and the Twin Cities PBS producers of Relish received an award in the Lifestyle Visual Media category. Here are the full lists of the Twin Cities's five finalists and 10 semifinalists for the 2025 James Beard Awards. Additional reporting by Brenna Houck. Disclosure: Some Vox Media staff members are part of the voting body for the James Beard Awards. Eater is partnering with the James Beard Foundation to livestream the awards in 2025. All editorial content is produced independently of the James Beard Foundation. See More:
Time Out
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
This seafood shack was Boston's only James Beard Award winner
Did a Southie seafood shack win the food world's Oscar equivalent? Yes, it did—and we're not mad about it! The James Beard Foundation handed out its highly coveted culinary awards in a splashy Chicago gala on Monday, June 16, and while the three Greater Boston finalists for the Restaurant and Chef Awards (Sarma 's Cassie Piuma for Outstanding Chef, Merai for Best New Bar, and Urban Hearth 's Erin Miller for Best Chef: Northeast) were sadly passed over, one unexpected local spot emerged victoriously. Last night might have been a complete shut out for Beantown's dining scene, but Sullivan's Castle Island in South Boston was happy to shoulder the burden as one of six restaurants awarded the annual America's Classics designation back in February. And anyone who has stood in the long line on opening day (typically after February school break) will agree the award is well-deserved for the seasonal spot—lovingly referred to as Sully's by locals—which has been a Boston institution since 1951, when Dan Sullivan, Sr. first opened it as a hot-dog stand. It's operated continuously by four generations of the Sullivan family ever since. As written by the James Beard Foundation on its award site, 'Every Bostonian has a story about Sully's—whether from working there after school as teenagers, having their sports team or fundraiser supported by Sully's, taking their children for some crinkle cuts like their grandparents took them, or simply enjoying it as a nostalgic seaside gathering place for locals.' Calling a trip to Sully's 'a rite of passage' for tourists and visitors, no Boston trip is complete without a stop at Sullivan's for a double smash burger with copious amounts of cheese, snappy hot dogs, thick crinkle-cut fries, fresh lobster rolls and other locally sourced seafood. Along with the seasonal outpost out on Castle Island, the restaurant also opened up a year-round location in Hanover Crossing in 2023. Not all locals were ignored this 2025 award season, though: One of our New England neighbors—Sky Haneul Kim of Gift Horse in Providence, Rhode Island—took home a James Beard medallion and a certificate for Best Chef: Northeast. Congrats!
Eater
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Eater
D.C.'s Own Carlos Delgado of Causa Wins a James Beard Award for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic
Carlos Delgado of Causa and Bar Amazonia has taken home the illustrious James Beard Award for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic. The James Beard Foundation announced the winners of its 35th-annual Restaurant and Chef Awards during a glitzy Monday night gala at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Well-dressed hospitality professionals were crowned coveted medals across dozens of categories in what is largely considered the Oscars of the food world. Read the full list of winners here. In nearby Baltimore, fine dining American stalwart Charleston received the James Beard Award for Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program in the country. Delgado, who oversees two Peruvian restaurants in D.C. — tasting menu-centric Causa and the pisco-fueled standout Bar Amazonia located upstairs — was one of five finalists for the city, though others did not advance to the final award. With a Peruvian flag in tow, Delgado brought his chef de cuisine Alex Lazo onstage, calling him his 'right-hand man' who 'works with me every day.' Pulling off two restaurants in one space 'is a lot of hard work,' he notes, especially since both debuted at once during the pandemic. 'This whole thing is an immigrant's dream of mine since I was a little kid,' says Delgado, noting it's his grandmother who taught him how to cook. Presenter Marcus Samuelsson, the celebrity chef who just opened his first D.C. restaurant (Marcus DC) in NoMa, handed Delgado the award. Just like when Causa was a best new restaurant finalist at the Chicago ceremony in 2023, Delgado admits he 'didn't write a speech' for last night's win. Delgado faced impressive competition in his category, from nominees such as fellow D.C. chef Henji Cheung of Queen's English, Philly's Jesse Ito of Royal Sushi & Izakaya and Amanda Shulman of Her Place Supper Club, and Dan Richer of Razza in Jersey City, N.J. It wasn't a total loss for Philadelphia, which saw Phila Lorn of stunner Cambodian restaurant Mawn win in the Emerging Chef category. A D.C.-proper chef hasn't won the Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic award since 2019, when Filipino chef Tom Cunanan took the title for (now-closed) Bad Saint. Last evening also marked a huge win for Charleston's vet chef Cindy Wolf, who was a James Beard finalist for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic in 2006, 2008; and every year from 2014 to 2019. Around since 1997 in Harbor East, this was the first time Charleston won for its wine program. Wine director Lindsay Willey oversees the 1,100-bottle list. Meanwhile, every other D.C. finalist for 2025 ultimately didn't take home a medal. That included Moon Rabbit's Susan Bae, who was up for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker for the second year in a row; Fried Rice Collective's Scott Drewno and Danny Lee of Anju, Chiko, and I Egg You (Outstanding Restaurateur); and Mita in Shaw (Best New Restaurant). D.C. chefs took home big nationwide accolades in 2024, with Perry's Masako Morishita winning Emerging Chef of the Year and Albi's Michael Rafidi named Outstanding Chef (a title that went to Oyster Oyster's Rob Rubba in 2023). Soon after opening, Causa was named one of Eater's Best New Restaurants in America and earned its first Michelin star. Lima-born Delgado previously honed his craft under José Andrés as the longtime executive chef at Penn Quarter's China Chilcano. He's busier than ever these days, as the newly named culinary director of the Wharf's sparkling Mediterranean restaurant La Vie. During a post-awards segment – the first of its kind during the VIP after-party at Chicago's Union Station – a medal-donning Delgado was pulled aside to recap his win. He thanked his daughter Sophia and son Matteo for the honor, and says he's already picked out a spot at Causa for the award (which is where he also keeps Eater's tomato can). The Media Awards hosted by Padma Lakshmi took place on Saturday, June 14 — read the full winners list here . Disclosure: Some Vox Media staff members are part of the voting body for the James Beard Awards. Eater is partnering with the James Beard Foundation to livestream the awards in 2025. All editorial content is produced independently of the James Beard Foundation. See More:
Eater
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Eater
2 Twin Cities Restaurants and Chefs Win James Beard Awards
Tonight, the James Beard Foundation announced the winners of its Restaurant and Chef Awards, with two Twin Cities restaurants taking home awards for Best New Restaurant and Best Chef: Midwest. The Monday, June 16, ceremony at the Lyric Opera of Chicago also included new categories to honor the beverage industry, including Best New Bar, Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service, and Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service. Find the full list of the 2025 James Beard Award winners here. Karyn Tomlinson, of Myriel in St. Paul, won in the Best Chef: Midwest category. Tomlinson quickly became known for her 'grandma cooking nouveau' style at Myriel after opening in 2021, combining her Scandinavian/Minnesotan heritage and French culinary training. Alluding to that 'grandma chic' cooking, Tomlinson dressed up in the same coral dress her grandmother wore when she was crowned the 'dazzle corn queen' in 1941. She ended her acceptance speech with some Midwest pride, saying 'the Midwest is beautiful, the Midwest is diverse, the Midwest is tenacious and strong.' Bûcheron won the Best New Restaurant category, with co-owner Janas 'Jeanie' Ritter accepting the Kingfield bistro's national award. Bûcheron was one of 10 nominees in the category, and the only restaurant from the Midwest and Great Lakes regions. (The only other Minnesota restaurant ever nominated in the category was Owamni, which brought home the award in 2022.) 'It's the neighborhood restaurant we always wanted in our neighborhood,' Jeanie said during her acceptance speech, adding that some of her guests have come out to Chicago to celebrate with them tonight and thanking them 'for making it possible to do what we love.' She and her husband Adam Ritter spoke to Eater earlier this month about how they built the 'Midwest French' restaurant so they could spend more time with their two toddlers. Ritter also told Eater before the awards that 'Minnesota cuisine is defined by the ingredients rather than the technique,' and Tomlinson seemed to echo that statement during a quick interview with Eater at the gala. She was proud of both Myriel and Bûcheron's wins as both are 'proudly Minnesottan and Midwestern and are exploring that in different ways in our connections with farmers.' She hopes that the Midwest will be recognized more in the future for its diversity and the many cultures that define the cuisine of the heartland. Bar Brava did not take home a Beard tonight in the new Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program. (Charleston in Baltimore brought home the win.) Here are the full lists of the Twin Cities's five finalists and 10 semifinalists for the 2025 James Beard Awards. Disclosure: Some Vox Media staff members are part of the voting body for the James Beard Awards. Eater is partnering with the James Beard Foundation to livestream the awards in 2025. All editorial content is produced independently of the James Beard Foundation. See More:
Time Out
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Here are the 2025 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Award winners
James Beard Awards season is finally here! Over the past few days, the James Beard Foundation descended up Chicago to celebrate the food, drink and hospitality industry. The 2025 James Beard Awards included various ceremonies, including the Impact Awards and the Media Awards, all culminating in the Restaurant and Chef Awards on June 16. Held at the Lyric Opera House in Chicago, the James Beard Awards honor excellence in the culinary industry, from fine dining establishments to casual neighborhood favorites. Nyesha Arrington and Andrew Zimmern hosted this year's mainstage, while the red carpet and ceremony livestream was hosted by some of New York's own, including Fariyal Abdullahi of Hav & Mar and Gregory Gourdet of Maison Passerelle, alongside Nilou Motamed and Francis Lam. The final awards ceremony was livestreamed via Eater. Out of the seven awards this year, New York brought home a whopping five. This year's awards ceremony included three new categories: Best New Bar, Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service and Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service. New York took home one of the inaugural awards, as Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service was awarded to Ignacio Jimenez of Superbueno. As for Outstanding Hospitality, the honor went to Atomix. This isn't the first win for the Nomad restaurant, which previously won two James Beard Awards, including Best Chef: New York State in 2023 and Outstanding Restaurant Design (75 Seats and Under) in 2019. Outstanding Restaurateur went to Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr for their trio of French restaurants— Frenchette, Le Rock and Le Veau d'Or. The duo beat out fellow New York restaurateur Simon Kim of COTE, Undercote and COQODAQ. As for the title of Best Chef: New York State, the award went to Vijay Kumar of Semma. Kumar follows in the footsteps of his Unapologetic Foods colleague, Chintan Pandya, who won the award in 2022 for his work at Dhamaka. Chef Kumar won over Nasim Alikhani of Sofreh, Ryan Fernandez of Southern Junction Barbecue in Buffalo, NY, Eiji Ichimura of Sushi Ichimura and Atsushi Kono of Kono. When asked in a post-interview if New York was soon to be the new central hub of Indian cuisine, Kumar agreed, saying, 'a lot more Indian every year from every single state, not just from New York.' One of the most important awards of the evening, Jungsik Yim of Jungsik won Outstanding Chef. Nominated for the first time, Jungsik's award follows a three-Michelin-star rating from the Michelin Guide in 2024, the first Korean restaurant in the U.S. to receive the honor. Gabriel Kreuether of his eponymous restaurant, Gabriel Kreuther, was also up for the award. Leading up to the Restaurant and Chef Awards, the Foundation held the 2025 James Beard Media Awards on Saturday, June 14, honoring the nation's top food authors, broadcast producers, hosts and journalists. While the winners of the Impact Awards were announced in April, the Foundation honored them on Sunday, June 14. Previously known as the Leadership Awards, the Impact Awards recognized leaders and organizations 'focused on climate change mitigation, the Farm Bill, racial and gender equity, and innovative business and staffing practices that set new standards for the independent restaurant industry.' Brooklyn's Anthony Edwards Jr was one of the recipients of the award for his work at EatOkra. Together with his fellow co-founder and partner Janique Edwards, the two created the app to connect foodies with Black-owned restaurants, eateries and food trucks across the nation. Also announced this past April were the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Humanitarian of the Year Award. The awards went to author, culinary journalist and activist Toni Tipton-Martin and founder of Cafe Momentum Chad Houser, respectively. Here are the winning 2025 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Award winners for New York: Ignacio Jimenez of Superbueno Best Chef: New York State Vijay Kumar, Semma, New York, NY Outstanding Hospitality Atomix, New York, NY Outstanding Restaurateur Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr, Frenchette, Le Rock and Le Veau d'Or Outstanding Chef Jungsik Yim, Jungsik
