Photo Credit: Dakar NOLA, New Orleans
The James Beard Awards are considered by many the top U.S. honors in the food industry. See the full list of James Beard winners here.
The James Beard Awards, often dubbed the Oscars of the food world, were handed out last night, celebrating chefs and restaurants that reflect diverse and often overlooked cultures and regions within the United States.
Dakar NOLA, named Best New Restaurant, showcases Chef Serigne Mbaye’s blend of West African roots with the ingredients of New Orleans in a modern Senegalese tasting menu. “I always knew that West Africa had something to say,” Mbaye remarked at the awards ceremony at Chicago’s Lyric Opera, reflecting on his journey from cooking classic Creole and French cuisine to spotlighting his heritage. “That kept me going.”
Also Read: In Good Spirits: Exploring New Orleans’ Iconic Cocktails
Langbaan in Portland, Oregon, which won Outstanding Restaurant, reimagines classic Thai dishes with Pacific Northwest ingredients on a five-course tasting menu.Michael Rafidi, named Outstanding Chef, dedicated his award to Palestinians worldwide. Rafidi’s innovative takes on traditional Arabic cuisine at Albi, his Michelin-starred Washington, DC restaurant, draw inspiration from his family’s roots in Ramallah.
The 2024 winners bring a rich heritage from the Philippines, Mexico, Japan, Peru, Vietnam, Senegal, and more to tables across the U.S. This year’s awards also spotlight restaurants in smaller towns and states that have not traditionally received James Beard Awards.
2024 James Beard Awards: Restaurant and Chef Award Winners
- Outstanding Chef: Michael Rafidi, Albi, Washington, D.C.
- Outstanding Restaurant: Langbaan, Portland, Oregon
- Outstanding Restaurateur: Erika Whitaker and Kelly Whitaker, Id Est Hospitality Group (The Wolf’s Tailor, BRUTØ, Basta, and others), Boulder, Colorado
- Best New Restaurant: Dakar NOLA, New Orleans
- Outstanding Hospitality: Lula Cafe, Chicago
- Emerging Chef: Masako Morishita, Perry’s, Washington, D.C.
- Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker: Atsuko Fujimoto, Norimoto Bakery, Portland, Maine
- Outstanding Bakery: ZU Bakery, Portland, Maine
- Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program: Lula Drake Wine Parlour, Columbia
- South Carolina Outstanding Bar: Jewel of the South
- New Orleans Best Chef: New York State Charlie Mitchell, Cloverhill, Brooklyn, New York
- Best Chef – Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA): Harley Peet, Bas Rouge, Easton, Maryland
- Best Chef – South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS, PR): Valerie Chang, Maty’s, Miami
- Best Chef – Northwest and Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA): Gregory Gourdet, Kann, Portland, Oregon
- Best Chef – Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT): David Standridge, The Shipwright’s Daughter, Mystic, Connecticut
- Best Chef – Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI): Christina Nguyen, Hai Hai, Minneapolis
- Best Chef – California: Lord Maynard Llera, Kuya Lord, Los Angeles
- Best Chef – Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY): Matt Vawter, Rootstalk, Breckenridge, Colorado
- Best Chef – Southwest (AZ, NM, NV, OK): Rene Andrade, Bacanora, Phoenix
- Best Chef – Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV): Paul Smith, 1010 Bridge, Charleston, West Virginia
- Best Chef – Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH): Hajime Sato, Sozai, Clawson, Michigan
- Best Chef – Texas: Ana Liz Pulido, Ana Liz Taqueria, Mission, Texas
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