Chefs from Across the US Among 2024 James Beard Award Finalists
The James Beard Foundation has announced the finalists for its 2024 awards, recognizing culinary excellence across the United States. Among the notable nominees are Rod Lassiter and Parnass Savang of Talat Market in Atlanta for Best Chef: Southeast, and Pete Amadhanirundr, Atsushi Hayakawa, and Cook & Soldiers, all representing Georgia. In Charleston, South Carolina, Kimball Brienza and Stephen Palmer from Indigo Road Hospitality are semifinalists for Outstanding Restaurateur.
North Carolina also shines in the list with Raleigh's Crawford & Son for Outstanding Hospitality, Wilmington's Dean Neff for Outstanding Chef, and Jamie Davis of The Hackney for Best Chef: Southeast. Meanwhile, Milwaukee's Dan Jacobs and Dan Van Rite are nominated for Best Chef Midwest, and Cleveland's Vinnie Cimino is a finalist for the Great Lakes region. Detroit's Baobab Fare and Hajime Sato of Sozai are also recognized as finalists.
However, Alabama marks a noticeable absence from the finalists, a rarity in the award's recent history. In contrast, Chicago boasts four restaurants and chefs among the finalists, reflecting the city's vibrant food scene. The awards ceremony, set to take place at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on June 10, will reveal the winners and celebrate achievements in the hospitality industry, including a commitment to diversity, sustainability, and excellence in culinary arts.
