The finalists were announced for this year’s James Beard Awards on Tuesday, and once again, it’s a strong showing for Philadelphia.
We started out with thirteen semifinalists, and now we have found out that seven chefs and restaurants have made it to the finals.
It’s the Oscars of the food world, and the list features some pretty excited newcomers and equally thrilled repeat nominees.
“It feels great,” says Nok Suntaranon, the chef/owner of Kalaya in Fishtown. “I was crying.”
For the second year in a row, Kalaya in Fishtown is up for Outstanding Restaurant.
It’s the fourth nomination for the Southern Thai hot spot and Suntaranon, who won Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic in 2023.
She told her team that they deserve all the accolades.
“I said, ‘I just want you guys to know that the restaurant, everything at Kalaya right now, is what I was dreaming of. I thanked my team for doing an amazing job.”
Three local chefs are up for this year’s Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic award.
Jesse Ito from Royal Sushi & Izakaya just earned his ninth nomination.
Ito is up against four-time nominee Amanda Shulman from Her Place Supper Club and two-time nominees Omar Tate and Cybille St. Aude-Tate from Honeysuckle.
The Lovers Bar at Friday Saturday Sunday is up for Outstanding Bar for the second year in a row. They won Outstanding Restaurant in 2023.
There are two newcomers heading to the awards ceremony.
Emmett in Kensington is up for Best New Restaurant and Justine Macneil at Fiore Fine Foods in Fishtown is a finalist for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker.
“It couldn’t be more exciting,” says Macneil. “These awards, they mean a lot in our community. I’ve been in this community for almost two decades now, and honestly, this is super awesome.”
Macneil was celebrating the news at the park with her kids.
“I’m just a kid from New Jersey who really wanted to bake and thought it would be a cool career,” she says. “This just kind of feels like goals can be met, but along the way is really what really matters.”
This year’s James Beard Awards will be held on June 15 in Chicago.
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