Origin of The James Beard Award
The James Beard Award is an award for chefs, restaurants, journalists, and authors. The project was originally launched in the 1990s with the first-ever prize presented in 1991. James Beard’s foundation sought to not only recognize and celebrate American food culture but introduce new concepts for its future. James Beard Hometown, New York, was the first host and throughout the past years, Chicago has taken over and with the host through 2027.
Chicago’s Semifinalist
Chicago has the most award winners throughout the past 20 years. As a matter of fact, Over 50 of the city’s award winners are locals
Five restaurants and six chefs representing 11 Chicago restaurants and Chefs as semifinalists for this prize for the year. One of them is Damarr Brown, the chef de cuisine at Virtue, which is a restaurant located in Hyde Park. Damarr Brown is a semifinalist for an emerging chef. Virtue’s chef, Erick Williams, previously won the award, therefore indicating success for the restaurant.
The remaining chefs are then all contenders for the title of Best Chef: Great Lakes in 2023. These chefs are Zubair Mohajir of Wazwan, Tim Flores and Genie Kwon of Kasama, Diana Dávila Boldin of Mi Tocaya Antojera, Thai Dang of HaiSous Vietnamese Kitchen, Paul Fehribach of Big Jones, and Diana Dávila Boldin of Mi Tocaya Antojera.
The remaining restaurants include both Khmai Cambodian Fine Dining and Obliex, which were nominated for Best New Restaurant, Outstanding Restaurants by Smyth, Outstanding Hospitality by Sepia, and Outstanding Wine and Other Beverage Program by All Together Now.
That concludes the Nominees for our very own Chicago chef and restaurants who made it to be semifinalists of The James Beard Award. Overall, many have gathered to support these restaurants and their neighborhoods, in hopes to see another resident win the James Beard Award.
By: Patricia Ezeanyim
Chicago Tribune: James Beard Award 2023: 11 Chicago chefs and Restaurants on Semifinalist list.
Choose Chicago: James Beard Awards 2023: full list of Chicago semifinalists
James Beard Foundation: About Us
Top and Featured: Karen Lee Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of jpellgen Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
