“Tonight is not about the negative,” said co-host Gail Simmons at the top of the show. The Foundation’s overall approach to addressing the ongoing conversation around the awards was mostly to address it obliquely. There’s been drama in the weeks leading up to tonight’s events: At least one chef has been disqualified this year (Timothy Hontzas from the best chef: South category), and in the wake of his revealing his disqualification, at least one committee member and one voting judge have resigned over how the Foundation handled the communication around that. Kris Komori of Kin won in the best chef: Mountain category, a first for Idaho, and best chef: Southwest winner Andrew Black of Oklahoma City’s Grey Sweater took home the first medal for his state, too. In the regional categories, Natalia Vallejo, of Cocina al Fondo in San Juan, became the first James Beard Award winner from Puerto Rico with her win in the best chef: South category and Sherry Pocknett of Sly Fox Den Too in Charlestown, RI became the first Indigenous woman to win a James Beard with her win in the best chef: Northeast category. On the beverage side, Ototo in Los Angeles took home the newly expanded award for outstanding wine and other beverages program for its sake list, while Bar Leather Apron in Honolulu won for outstanding bar. Yoli Tortilleria in Kansas City, MO won the first ever outstanding bakery award.
After five nominations, Margarita Manzke of acclaimed LA restaurant République won outstanding pastry chef or baker. Damarr Brown of Virtue in Chicago took home the win for emerging chef and Rob Rubba of Oyster Oyster, Washington, D.C.
It was a good night for Philly in the national categories Ellen Yin was named outstanding restaurateur for her work leading High Street Hospitality Group. Some highlights from the national categories: Gregory Gourdet’s Kann in Portland won Best New Restaurant and Chad Williams’ Friday Saturday Sunday in Philadelphia won outstanding restaurant. The ceremony was co-hosted by Eric Adjepong, Esther Choi, Gail Simmons, and Andrew Zimmern. The awards are among the highest honors in the American restaurant industry. At a red-carpet event tonight at the Lyric Opera in Chicago, the James Beard Awards honored restaurants and chefs in categories like best new restaurant, emerging chef, and regional best chef categories.
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