The James Beard Awards 2025 Recap: Cheers to good taste and great talent

What a night to remember at the 2025 James Beard Foundation Awards!  Held at the iconic Lyric Opera of Chicago, the evening celebrated the culinary industry’s most inspiring voices and visionaries.

We were honored to partner with the James Beard Foundation and help bring the vision of chefs Michael Rafidi and Suzanne Goin to life through a beautifully executed four-course menu and passed hors d’oeuvres for the VIP dinner. Both chefs brought their talents and thoughtfulness to every detail, and it was a pleasure to work alongside them.

The James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards recognize excellence in the culinary arts, food and beverage, and hospitality industries. The mission of the James Beard Awards is to recognize exceptional talent and achievement in the culinary arts, hospitality, media, and broader food system, as well as a demonstrated commitment to equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive.

Thank you to the Illinois Restaurant Association and Choose Chicago for co-hosting such a meaningful evening and to David Bowen and the team at Bowen and Company on producing a flawless event from start to finish.

And a big congratulations to this year’s nominees and winners! It’s an honor to be part of a community that continues to shape the future of food!

 

2025 Winners

 

Outstanding Restaurateur – Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr, Frenchette, Le Veau d’ Or, and Le Rock, New York, NY

 

Outstanding Chef presented by Hilton – Jungsik Yim, Jungsik, New York, NY

 

Outstanding Restaurant presented by Acqua Panna® Natural Spring Water – Frasca Food and Wine, Boulder, CO

 

Emerging Chef presented by S.Pellegrino® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water – Phila Lorn, Mawn, Philadelphia, PA

 

Best New Restaurant – Bûcheron, Minneapolis, MN

 

Outstanding Bakery – JinJu Patisserie, Portland, OR

 

Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker – Cat Cox, Country Bird Bakery, Tulsa, OK

 

Outstanding Hospitality presented by American Airlines – Atomix, New York, NY

 

Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program – Charleston, Baltimore, MD

 

Outstanding Bar – Kumiko, Chicago, IL

 

Best New Bar – Identidad Cocktail Bar, San Juan, PR

 

Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service – Arjav Ezekiel, Birdie’s, Austin, TX

 

Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service – Ignacio “Nacho” Jimenez, Superbueno, New York, NY

 

Best Chefs presented by Capital One (by region)

 

Best Chef: California – Jon Yao, Kato, Los Angeles, CA

 

Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH) – Noah Sandoval, Oriole, Chicago, IL

 

Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA) – Carlos Delgado, Causa and Amazonia, Washington, D.C.

 

Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI) – Karyn Tomlinson, Myriel, St. Paul, MN

 

Best Chef: Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY) – Salvador Alamilla, Amano, Caldwell, ID

 

Best Chef: New York State – Vijay Kumar, Semma, New York, NY

 

Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT) – Sky Haneul Kim, Gift Horse, Providence, RI

 

Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA) – Timothy Wastell, Antica Terra, Amity, OR

 

Best Chef: South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS, PR) – Nando Chang, Itamae AO, Miami, FL

 

Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV) – Jake Howell, Peninsula, Nashville, TN

 

Best Chef: Southwest (AZ, NM, NV, OK) – Yotaka Martin, Lom Wong, Phoenix, AZ

 

Best Chef: Texas – Thomas Bille, Belly of the Beast, Spring, TX