James Beard Foundation Announces Finalists for Annual Food Awards
In an exciting turn of events, the James Beard Foundation, known for hosting the prestigious annual food awards, has released the list of finalists for the 2024 edition. This follows the earlier announcement of the semifinalists in January, which included renowned establishments such as Sylvia’s – the esteemed Harlem institution, honored with the America’s Classic distinction.
The finalists’ lineup is brimming with exceptional talent, featuring chefs from noteworthy restaurants like Kono, Sofreh, and Harana Market upstate. These finalists have demonstrated outstanding culinary prowess and are expected to make the final awards ceremony a captivating event.
The James Beard Foundation Awards ceremony will be held in Chicago on June 10, with Eater ensuring food enthusiasts from around the world can livestream the event and enjoy the festivities.
Notably, this year’s New York City awards have drawn great attention due to a surprising trend. In 2023, no New York chef received an award in the national categories, marking an unprecedented snub since the award’s inception in 1991. Unfortunately, the trend seems to continue this year as well. New York restaurants have not made it to the final round in major categories like Best New Restaurant and Outstanding Chef.
Several establishments, including Foul Witch, Foxface Natural, Superiority Burger, Double Chicken Please, and All Night Skate, were unfortunately left out of the list alongside esteemed New York chefs. Bryan Chunton and Pei Wei, known for their accomplishments at Zaab Zaab and Zaab Zaab Talay, and Ravi DeRossi were New York’s semifinalists for the Outstanding Restaurateur category but failed to secure national recognition.
Internal Audit Sets the Stage for a More Equitable James Beard Awards
In 2021, the James Beard Foundation launched an internal audit aimed at further enhancing the fairness and transparency of the award selection process. It was a notable step toward ensuring that excellence and merit are rightfully acknowledged. However, the awards continue to make headlines for various reasons.
Last year, an unfortunate incident led to the disqualification of a chef from the running, while another chef faced an investigation over social media posts they had made.
Finalists Showcase New York’s Culinary Brilliance
Among the finalists from New York City and New York state, a few establishments have particularly caught the attention and admiration of food enthusiasts:
Outstanding Bakery
- Mel the Bakery (Hudson, New York)
Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program
- Waxlight Bar à Vin (Buffalo, New York)
Outstanding Hospitality
Emerging Chef
- Fariyal Abdullahi, Hav & Mar
- Ryan Fernandez, Southern Junction (Buffalo, New York)
Best Chef: New York State
- Nasim Alikhani, Sofreh
- Atsushi Kono, Kono
- Chris Mauricio, Harana Market (Accord, New York)
- Charlie Mitchell, Clover Hill
- Jeremy Salamon, Agi’s Counter
Disclosure: Some individuals within Vox Media are part of the voting body for the James Beard Awards ceremony. Eater has partnered with the James Beard Foundation to livestream the awards in 2024. All editorial content is independently produced and does not represent the views of the James Beard Foundation.
