CNN—
A Philadelphia restaurant with an eight-course tasting menu, a Haitian restaurant in the Pacific Northwest and a chef focusing on a sustainable menu of oysters and wild vegetables in Washington, D.C. are the three big winners of the 2023 James Beard Awards, considered the Oscars of the food world.
The awards were streamed live by the Lyric Opera of Chicago on the website Eater on Monday night. The awards have been presented in the Windy City since 2015 and are expected to remain there until 2027.
The show was co-hosted by Eric Adjepong, Esther Choi, Andrew Zimmern and Gail Simmons, who apologized at the start of the show for being part of the combative and nasty tone of reality cooking shows that created a "generation of total monsters". who then went to restaurants with proclamations like "that ramp butter needs more acid" and used the term "flavor profile".
But "tonight is not about the negative. This is about celebrating chefs and the industry we love so much,” said Simmons.
Like last year, much of the 2023 show focused on showcasing the new push for greater diversity. This included expanding the geographic network with winners such as Boise, Idaho; Madison, Wisconsin; Oklahoma City; and the town of Monson, Maine.
Gregory Gourdet de Kann, winner of the Best New Restaurant award, said: “Today I am the son of Haitian immigrants, the son of my ancestors and a member of a team of 45 people dedicated to telling the story of Haiti and its contributions to culinary and culture, American culture and global culture together. … We hope to be an example that paying people fairly, with diverse and mixed teams, is not only fair, but also effective.”
Sherry Pocknett of Sly Fox Den Too in Charlestown, Rhode Island became the first Native American woman to win a James Beard.
Numerous Asian Americans have been recognized by James Beards, including Ellen Yin as an outstanding restaurateur.
Demonstrating the impact of the awards, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson appeared on the broadcast.
Controversies surrounding awards
Philadelphia had a good night at the awards, including wins on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for Outstanding Restaurant.
The non-profit James Beard Foundation was founded more than 30 years ago, shortly after the death of "foodie pioneer" James Beard, "to celebrate, support and elevate the people behind American food culture."
The first award ceremony was held in 1991.
The James Beard Foundation has been embroiled in controversy in recent years.
Awards in many major categories were abruptly canceled in 2020 due to the industry pandemic and issues with ethics and diversity among nominees, and were put on hold in 2021 while the Foundation worked on a new awards structure.
Last year's awards marked the first awards under new policies and procedures and a new code of ethics prompted by allegations of chef misconduct and a lack of diversity.
This year, the process used to veto bad behavior has sparked its own controversy, with one chef, Timothy Hontzas, finding himself disqualified and another, Sam Fore,speaking to the New York Timesthat she was under investigation, but not disqualified. Some in the industry have criticized the secrecy surrounding the ethics process, which has already sparked outrage among judges and award committee members.
The controversy was acknowledged during the broadcast. "This category brought more drama than the Mariah Carey show," said TV host Monti Carlo before announcing the best chef: South category. Hontzas' name was read out along with the other nominees during the show.
Southern category winner Natalia Vallejo is the first Puerto Rican woman to win a James Beard Award.
The foundation defended its new ethics procedures.
"This process is designed to protect the integrity of the Prize and its mission while being fair to those it seeks to celebrate," the foundation said in a statement to CNN.
"We support this process, which reflects our values and the Foundation's overall mission: to celebrate, support and elevate the people behind America's food culture and support a standard of good food based on talent, equity and sustainability."
In 2023, the structure of the electorate was adjusted,combining the functions of recognition and tastingfor judges.
Here is the full list of nominees for the 2023 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards.Winners in each category are listed in bold.
James Beard Restaurant e Chef Awards
a great cook
Rachel Miller, Nightshade Noodle Bar, Lynn, MA
Niki Nakayama, n/naka, Los Angeles, CA
Erik Ramirez, Llama Inn, Brooklyn, NY
Rob Rubba, Oyster Oyster, Washington, D.C.
Hajime Sato, Sozai, Clawson, MI
great restaurant
Copine, Seattle, WA
Coracora, West Hartford, CT
Friday Saturday Sunday, Philadelphia, PA
Lucy, Dallas, Texas
Mita's, Cincinnati, OH
the best new restaurant
Customers enjoy the food and atmosphere at Kanno in Portland, Oregon. The Haitian menu won the award for best new restaurant.
Causa, Washington, D.C.
Department of Culture, New York, NY
Don Artemio Mexican Heritage, Fort Worth, TX
He canPortland, OR
Lupin & Iris, Milwaukee, WI
Neng Jr., Asheville, NC
Nolia, Cincinnati, OH
Obelix, Chicago, IL
Beatrice Restaurant, Dallas, TX
Tatemó, Houston, TX
excellent restaurateur
Brandon Chrostowski, EDWINS Leadership and Restaurant Institute (EDWINS Leadership and Restaurant Institute, edwins također, EDWINS Bakery e outros), Cleveland, OH
Greg Dulan, Dulan's Soul Food Kitchen, Dulan's on Crenshaw and Dulanville, Los Angeles, CA
Aaron Hoskins, Sarah Simmons i Elie Yigo, CITY GRIT Hospitality Group (smallSUGAR, CITY GRIT, Il Focolare Pizzeria), Columbia, SC
Yenvy e Quynh Pham, Pho Bac Sup Shop, Phocific Standard Time, The Boat, Seattle, WA
Ellen Yin, High Street Hospitality Group (Fork, a.kitchen + bar, High Street i drugi), Philadelphia, PA
a chef in the making
Damar Brown, Virtude, Chicago, IL
Rashida Holmes, Bridgetown Roti, Los Angeles, CA
Serigne Mbaye, Dakar NOLA, Nova Orleans, LA
Charlie Mitchell, Clover Hill, Brooklyn, NY
Amanda Shulman, Her Place Supper Club, Philadelphia, PA
Excellent bakery
Angelo Brocato Ice Cream & Conditionery, New Orleans, LA
La Casita Bakeshop, Richardson, TX
Pekara Kuluntu, Dallas, TX
Yoli Tortiljerija, Kansas City, MO
Zak the Baker, Miami, FL
An excellent confectioner or baker
Veronika Gerasimova, Pastelaria Veronika, Billings, MT
Elaine Uykimpang Bentz, Café Mochiko, Cincinnati, OH
Vince Bugtong, ABACA, San Francisco, CA
Daisy Manzke, Republic, Los Angeles, CA
Shawn McKenzie, Café Ceres, Minneapolis, MN
Excellent hospitality
Black Cypress, Pullman, WA
Bottega, Birmingham, AL
Lula Drake, Columbia, SC
quarry, Monson, ME
Sepia, Chicago, IL
Top wine and other drinks program
COTE, New York, NY
Lazy Bear, San Francisco, CA
Nancy's Hustle, Houston, TX
TRUTH, Los Angeles, California
Spencer, Ann Arbor, MI
great bar
Bar leather apron, Honolulu, HI
Drastic Measures, Shawnee, KS
Wine room Garagište | Merchant, Las Vegas, NV
Las Ramblas, Brownsville, Texas
Rob Roy, Seattle, WA
BEST CHEF (by region)
Best Chef: California
Gilberto Cetina Jr., Holbox, Los Angeles, CA
Kyle i Katina Connaughton, SingleThread, Healdsburg, CA
Brandon Hayato Go, Hayato, Los Angeles, CA
Justin Pichettungsi, Anajak Thai, Sherman Oaks, CA
Carlos Salgado, Taco Maria, Costa Mesa, CA
Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)
Omar Anani, Saffron De Twah, Detroit, MI
Diana Davila, My Namesake Enchantment, Chicago, IL
Tim Flores i Genie Kwon, Commerce, Chicago, IL
Andy Hollyday, Selden Standard, Detroit, MI
Sarah Welch, Medula, Detroit, MI
Best Chef: Srednji Atlantik (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)
Jesse Ito, Royal Sushi, Philadelphia, PA
Dionicio Jimenez, Cantina La Martina, Philadelphia, PA
Kate Lasky and Tomasz Skowronski, Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA
Michael Rafidi, Albi, Washington, D.C.
Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon, Kalaya, Philadelphia, PA
Top Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI)
Sana's Gourmet Mediterranean, Sioux Falls, SD
Gregory Leon, Amilinda, Milwaukee, WI
Francesco Mangano, Osteria Papavero, Madison, WI
Itaru Nagano i Andrew Kroeger, Fairchild, Madison, WI
David Utterback, Yoshitomo, Omaha, NE
Best Chef: Planina (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY)
Salvador Alamilla, Amano, Caldwell, ID
Michael Diaz de Leon, BRUTØ, Denver, CO
Suchada Johnson, Teton Thai, Teton Village, WY
Chris Komori, KIN, Boise, ID
Ali Sabbah, Mazza, Salt Lake City, UT
Best Chef: New York State
Nasim Alikhani, Sofreh, Brooklyn, NY
Mary Attea, The Musket Room, New York, NY
Amanda Cohen, Dirt Candy, New York, NY
Shaina Loew-Banayan, Cafe Mutton, Hudson, NY
junghun park, Atomix, New York, NY
Top Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)
Valentine Howell, Krasi, Boston, MA
Christian Hunter, Mesa Comunitária, New Preston, CT
Sherry Pocknett, Sly Fox Den Too, Charlestown, RI
Yisha Siu, Yunnan Kitchen, Boston, MA
Renee Toupone, The Port of Call, Mystic, CT
Top Chef: Northwest and Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA)
Joshua Dorcak, MÄS, Ashland, OR
Vince Nguyen, Berlu, Portland, OR
Thomas Pisha-Duffly, Gado Gado, Portland, OR
Beau Schooler, Good luck, Juneau, AK
Aaron Verzosa, Archipelago, Seattle, WA
Top Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)
Sam Fore, Tuk Tuk Sri Lankan Bites, Lexington, KY
Josh Habiger, Bastion, Nashville, TN
Sam Hart, Counter-, Charlotte, NC
Terry Koval, Deer and Pigeon, Decatur, GA
Paul Smith, 1010 Bridge, Charleston, WV
Melhor kuhar: Sun (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS, PR)
Ana Castro, native speaker, New Orleans, LA
Timothy Hontzas, restoran Johnny's, Homewood, AL
Henry Moso, Kabooki Sushi, Orlando, FL
Alex Perry i Kumi Omori, Vestige, Ocean Springs, MS
Natalia Vallejo, Kitchen in the background, San Juan, PR
Top Chef: Southwest (AZ, NM, NV, OK)
Oscar Amador, Anima by EDO, Las Vegas, NV
Kaoru Azeuchi, KAISEKI YUZU, Las Vegas, NV
Andrew Black, gray sweater, Oklahoma City, OK
Jeff Chanchaleune, Ma Der Lao Kitchen, Oklahoma City, OK
Justin Pioche, Pioche Food Group, Upper Fruitland (Doolkai), Navajo Nation, NM
Best Chef: Texas
Reyna Duong, Sandwich Hag, Dallas, TX
Benchawan Jabthong Pintor, Street to the Kitchen, Houston, TX
Emiliano Marentes, ELEMI, El Paso, TX
John Russ, Clementine, San Antonio, TX
Ernest Servantes i David Kirkland, Burnt Bean Co., Seguin, TX
Award for leadership
(All nominees in this category were recognized on stage)
Jim Embry, Sustainable Communities Network, Slow Food USA i Ujamaa Cooperative Farming Alliance
Valeria Horn, CANE Kitchen, Cowan Community Center e City of Whitesburg Farmers Market
Savonala “Savi” Horne, Land Loss Prevention Project
Ira Wallace, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange
Rowan Branco, Saw Seeds
Emerging leadership:Burgerville Workers Union
Award for humanitarian of the year
Black Farmer Fund Co-Founders: Social Entrepreneur and Impact InvestorOlivia Watkins, farmer and activistKaren Washington
Lifetime Achievement Award
Madur Jaffrey CBE, cookbook author, writer, teacher and actress.
FAQs
These chefs and restaurants are the 2023 James Beard Award winners | CNN? ›
Justin Pichetrungsi, Anajak Thai - Sherman Oaks, Calif.
Who won the James Beard Award 2023? ›Justin Pichetrungsi, Anajak Thai - Sherman Oaks, Calif.
Do James Beard Award winners get money? ›Winners receive a medallion, a certificate reflecting the winning entrant, and recognition on the James Beard website. The Humanitarian of the Year honoree also receives a $20,000 prize to further the honoree's work, kindly funded by the Michael Phillips Humanitarian Fund.
Is a James Beard award higher than a Michelin star? ›The culinary world is full of accolades, from local media recognition to the James Beard Awards. But no honor is quite as prestigious as the Michelin star, an honor bestowed on restaurants that are models of exceptional food and dining experience.
Has Bobby Flay ever gotten a James Beard Award? ›Three-time James Beard Foundation Award winner: Rising Star Chef of the Year (1993) National Television Food Show Award – Bobby Flay Chef Mentor (2005) Who's Who of Food & Beverage in America (2007)
How do you become a James Beard Award winner? ›There is no open call for entries for the Lifetime Achievement and Humanitarian of the Year Awards. Prospective candidates are researched and recommended by Awards Committee members, subcommittee members, and judges from all Awards programs.
Who won two time James Beard Award? ›Alon Shaya, a two-time James Beard Award winner, was a latchkey kid.
What is the highest honor for a chef? ›The James Beard Awards are widely viewed as one of the highest honors for the hospitality industry in the U.S., often called “Oscars of the food world.”
What is the highest award for chefs? ›The Michelin Guide
The Michelin Guide's awarded Michelin Stars have become the most coveted and respected culinary award a restaurant or chef can receive.
Patrick O'Connell, the chef/owner behind three Michelin starred Inn at Little Washington is one of the most regular winners having been awarded a James Beard medal five-times and has also received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his four decades of work at the Inn.
What is the highest star Michelin restaurant? ›
Being awarded three Michelin stars is the highest accolade a restaurant can receive. The Michelin Guide is famously secretive about how it decides which restaurants deserve stars and how many.
What's higher than a Michelin star? ›According to the guide, one Michelin star represents a “very good restaurant in its category,” while two stars denotes a restaurant boasting “excellent cooking” that is “worth a detour.” Three stars, however, is the ultimate accolade, afforded only to those restaurants that offer “exceptional cuisine” that is “worth a ...
How many Michelin 3 star restaurants are there in the world? ›Holding three Michelin stars is a rare honour few restaurants have achieved, with 137 restaurants from around the world making the prestigious list in 2022.
Do the winners of Beat Bobby Flay get paid? ›The winning chef will be awarded $15,000 before heading to battle, and if he or she beats Bobby an additional $25,000 awaits, along with some pretty substantial bragging rights. Find out how the finale played out.
Has anyone beat Bobby Flay? ›The winning contestant then chooses a dish for both the contestant and Flay to cook in the second round which lasts for 45 minutes. The winner of the second round is determined by three judges in a blind taste test. Through 413 competitions, Bobby Flay's win–loss record is 255–158 (a 61.7% win percentage).
How are James Beard nominees chosen? ›Now only winners from the past three years are eligible, and that eligibility isn't automatic: They must be chosen by the Beard Foundation's awards committee. The roster of members of the food media who are allowed to vote has also been reworked.
Why is it called the James Beard Award? ›Controversy around the awards
The nonprofit James Beard Foundation was established more than 30 years ago, shortly after "pioneer foodie" James Beard's death, "to celebrate, support and elevate the people behind America's food culture." The first awards ceremony was held in 1991.
The first James Beard Foundation Awards are given, honoring chefs and restaurants across the country. Known as the “Oscars of the food world,” Rick Bayless, Emeril Lagasse, Wolfgang Puck, Nancy Silverton, David Bouley and M.F.K. Fisher were among the first winners.
What are the James Beard Award categories? ›
1. Tilman Fertitta. Tilman Fertitta is a restaurateur that has a net worth of about $4.6 billion. He is not a chef but has earned the title of the “World's Richest Restaurateur” and is one of America's wealthiest citizens.
Who won best restaurant in the world? ›
El Celler de Can Roca (2013, 2015) Osteria Francescana (2016, 2018) Eleven Madison Park (2017) Mirazur (2019)
Who is the female James Beard Award winner? ›Mashama Bailey, chef of the Grey in Savannah, Georgia, took home the Beard Award for outstanding chef.
What is a 5 star chef called? ›Michelin Stars set the standard for ranking the finest in the restaurant industry and the culinary world, so being a Michelin Starred Chef is of the highest honor.
What is the lowest chef rank? ›Junior Chef (Commis Chef)
This person has recently completed some schooling or training and is beginning to work in the culinary field. The junior chef's job is to assist the more experienced chefs and to absorb their knowledge and techniques.
Also known as: Executive Chef, Head Chef
At the top of the tree is the Head Chef. The Head Chef is responsible for the running of the kitchen, including setting the menu, organising staff, liaising with suppliers and managing the budget.
Thomas Keller is the USA's most decorated chef, with a current total of seven Michelin stars.
Who is the best female chef? ›Elena Reygadas, named world's best female chef, cooks in rhythm with nature. Mexico's biodiversity and bounty of vegetables and ingredients is what makes for the "exceptional flavors," says the acclaimed chef, author and manager of four restaurants.
Who is the best chef in the world 2023? ›The World's 50 Best Restaurants previously announced the winner of the award for the World's Best Female Chef 2023, Elena Reygadas for her work at one of Mexico City's outstanding restaurants, Rosetta.
Who is the best pastry chef 2023? ›As was the case in 2022, the title of Asia's Best Pastry Chef 2023 by the World's 50 Best Restaurants ranking has gone to a chef born in Singapore: Louisa Lim, Odette's pastry chef.
Can you get 4 Michelin stars? ›Perhaps disappointingly, the answer is no - three is still the maximum number of Michelin stars that can be awarded to any one restaurant.
What dish is James Beard famous for? ›
Easy Zucchini Bread. This classic recipe for zucchini bread comes from the father of American gastronomy, James Beard, and his iconic book Beard on Bread.
Who is the #1 chef in the world? ›Known for his volatile kitchen demeanour and exceptional British cuisine, Gordon Ramsay is arguably the most famous chef in the world.
Are there any female Michelin star chefs? ›Dominique Crenn, Emma Bengtsson, and Nancy Silverton prove how being a trailblazer leads to happiness and they share insights for the next gen.
What city has the most Michelin star restaurants in the US? ›Some US cities that have Michelin Star Restaurants include New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. New York has the most Michelin Star Restaurants with a total of 73. Globally, Tokyo is the city with the most Michelin Star restaurants.
What is the US equivalent to a Michelin star? ›| Name | Working area | Type of rating |
|---|---|---|
| Michelin Guide | New York, Chicago, D.C., and San Francisco | 1 to 3 stars |
| Gayot Guide/Gault Millau | United States | 1 to 20 points |
| American Automobile Association | United States | 1 to 5 diamonds |
| Forbes Travel Guide | United States & Canada | 1 to 5 stars |
Yes, a restaurant can lose its Michelin Star(s).
The Stars are awarded every year based on certain criteria. If the criteria are not met, the restaurant can lose the Star or the Stars they have been awarded previously. This can even happen to the top 25 Michelin Star restaurants.
Do Michelin inspectors always dine alone? Short answer: no. Anthony says that while they do often dine out alone, inspectors will also take into account the usual clientele of the restaurant and mimic it if possible.
What state has the most Michelin star restaurants? ›California hosts the biggest number of Michelin-star restaurants among all US states, thanks to culinary destinations Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area.
What city has the most Michelin star restaurants? ›Tokyo was the city with the most Michelin-starred restaurants in the world as of January 2022, with 203 of the Japanese capital's eateries boasting at least one of the tyre giant's coveted stars.
How many Michelin stars does Bobby Flay have? ›Such is his international fame that we have wondered how many Michelin stars he has in his restaurants, and the answer is Bobby Flay does not currently hold any award by the prestigious Michelin Guide.
Does Guy Fieri and Bobby Flay get along? ›
As two of Food Network's biggest stars, it's easy to think that Guy Fieri and Bobby Flay might hold a bit of animosity towards each other. However, in reality, it seems that the relationship between the two chefs is the exact opposite of this popular trope.
Is Bobby Flay the richest chef? ›Bobby Flay
Bobby ties with Garten at number 9 on the list with a net worth of $US60 million.
How much does an Iron Chef make? As of May 28, 2023, the average annual pay for an Iron Chef in the United States is $54,334 a year.
Why did Beat Bobby Flay get Cancelled? ›The Beat Bobby Flay has signed on to stay once his current, three-year contract expires at the end of 2021. In October, Variety reported that he would be parting ways with Food Network after 27 years, after both parties could not agree on financial terms.
How much money does Bobby Flay make in a year? ›| Name | Bobby Flay |
|---|---|
| Net Worth (2023) | $65 Million |
| Profession | American chef |
| Monthly Income And Salary | $0.5 Million + |
| Yearly Income And Salary | $5 Million + |
They're pretty legit: Despite certain episodes where the competitor's dishes look significantly better to Bobby's and with better critique from the judges, somehow the host is still victorious.
What is more prestigious James Beard or Michelin star? ›The culinary world is full of accolades, from local media recognition to the James Beard Awards. But no honor is quite as prestigious as the Michelin star, an honor bestowed on restaurants that are models of exceptional food and dining experience.
Who won the James Beard Award in Knoxville? ›J.C. Holdway - Knoxville
James Beard Award winner Chef Joseph Lenn was the chef at The Barn at Blackberry Farm before coming to Knoxville to start his own venture, J.C. Holdway.
The winner of seven James Beard Foundation Awards, Commander's Palace has evolved into a culinary legend.
How old are the James Beard Awards? ›In 1990 the James Beard Foundation made another leap forward by establishing the James Beard Foundation Awards for excellence in the food and beverage and related industries. The first awards were given in 1991.
How many Top Chef contestants have won a James Beard Award? ›
Several have been James Beard award-winners, such as Karen Akunowicz (seasons 13 & 17), Nina Compton (season 11), Kwame Onwuachi (season 13), and Beverly Kim (season 9).
Who won the James Beard Award in Houston? ›Benchawan Jabthong Painter of Houston's Street to Kitchen wins James Beard Award for Best Chef Texas. June 5, 2023 Updated: June 5, 2023 9:40 p.m. Chef Benchawan Jabthong Painter at Street to Kitchen.
Who won James Beard Asheville? ›In 2022, Asheville's Chai Pani won the award for Outstanding Restaurant, and Cúrate won for Outstanding Hospitality. View the full list of the 2023 semifinalists at jamesbeard.org/awards.
What is the most prestigious chef award? ›The James Beard Awards honor excellence in the culinary industry, and are often called the Oscars of the food world.
What does it mean to be a James Beard Award winner? ›The James Beard Awards recognizes exceptional talent and achievement in the culinary arts, hospitality, media, and broader food system, as well as a demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive.
Is Commanders Palace Michelin star? ›A Michelin 3-Star Experience in New Orleans - Review of Commander's Palace, New Orleans, LA - Tripadvisor.
What is the highest rated restaurant in the world? ›| Year | 1st | 2nd |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Eleven Madison Park | Osteria Francescana |
| 2018 | Osteria Francescana | El Celler de Can Roca |
| 2019 | Mirazur | Noma |
| 2021 | Noma | Geranium |