In 2024, these chefs and restaurants were honored with James Beard Awards.

Chefs and restaurants have been recognized as the 2024 James Beard Award recipients.

At Dakar NOLA, the champion of the Best New Restaurant award, Chef Serigne Mbaye merges his West African origins with the flavors of New Orleans on a seasonally-changing, seafood-focused menu.

"I always knew that West Africa had something to tell the world," Mbaye expressed at the awards ceremony at the Lyric Opera in Chicago, even while working with Creole and French cuisine at other dining spots prior. "That thought pushed me forward."

Langbaan in Portland, Oregon, has garnered the Outstanding Restaurant accolade for its creative take on traditional Thai fare using local Pacific Northwest ingredients.

The Outstanding Chef receiver, Michael Rafidi, paid tribute to the global Palestinian community during his acceptance speech. Rafidi's innovative spin on classic Arabic cuisine at Albi, his Michelin-starred eatery in Washington, D.C., is deeply influenced by his family's background in Ramallah.

This year's award-winning lineup boasts culinary influence from across the globe - the Philippines, Mexico, Japan, Peru, Vietnam, and Senegal - and recognition is widely given to lesser-known dining spots in smaller American towns and states.

"For the first time, two words that were never mentioned here: West Virginia," chef Paul Smith mentioned during the ceremony, accepting the Best Chef: Southeast accolade for 1010 Bridge in Charleston, West Virginia. The Lula Drake Wine Parlour in Columbia, South Carolina, won the distinction for the Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program. In addition, chefs from Mission, Texas, Mystic, Connecticut, and Easton, Maryland earned their achievements as well.

Several recipients viewed their prizes as the fulfillment of a fortunate career switch.

Japan-born Masako Morishita relocated to Washington, DC to cheer for the Commanders. Atsuko Fujimoto, who moved to Portland, Maine, 23 years ago from Tokyo with no previous kitchen experience, also carved out a new culinary path.

"My wildest American dreams came true!" Morishita gushed upon receiving the Emerging Chef recognition for her Japanese comfort food served at Perry's in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, DC.

Fujimoto, the owner of Norimoto Bakery in Portland, Maine, won the prestigious Outstanding Baker honor.

Overcoming Tough Times

Various obstacles endemic to the restaurant industry - and broader societal issues - were simultaneously tackled throughout the night.

Several recognition honorees earned achievement awards on Monday night. This group included the acclaimed food writer, journalist, novelist, and television personality Ruth Reichl, who during her career has been a food critic at The New York Times and the editor-in-chief of Gourmet Magazine. Reichl thanked the James Beard Foundation and the esteemed food industry contemporaries for the paradigm shift of American eating habits she has witnessed over her lifetime.

"You transformed the way we dine, ignited a scrumptious revolution, and ushered in an era when individuals recognize that the food they consume is an ethical choice, one that truly matters. It offers me hope for the future," she said.

Established more than 30 years ago, the non-profit James Beard Foundation commenced after the death of the culinary pioneer and "Dean of American Cookery," James Beard. Beard had hosted the first food show on network television in 1946 and was hailed as "the Dean of American Cookery" by The New York Times in 1954.

The foundation, that has occasionally faced critique in recent years, initiated new policies, measures, and ethical codes last year in response to criticism of a lack of diversity and accusations of culinary maestros' questionable behavior. This process led to its own controversy.

Restaurant and Chef Awards: 2024 Finalists and Winners

Outstanding Restaurateur

Hamissi Mamba and Nadia Nijimbere, Baobab Fare, Detroit, MI

Quynh-Vy and Yenvy Pham, Phở Bắc Súp Shop, Phởcific Standard Time, and The Boat, Seattle, WA

Chris Viaud, Greenleaf, Ansanm, and Pavilion, Milford and Wolfeboro, NH

Hollis Wells Silverman, Eastern Point Collective (The Duck & The Peach, Méli, The Wells, and others), Washington, D.C.

WINNER: Erika Whitaker and Kelly Whitaker, ID EST (The Wolf’s Tailor, BRUTØ, Basta, and others), Boulder, CO

Outstanding Chef

Sarah Minnick, Lovely’s Fifty Fifty, Portland, OR

Dean Neff, Seabird, Wilmington, NC

WINNER: Michael Rafidi, Albi, Washington, D.C.

Renee Touponce, The Port of Call, Mystic, CT

David Uygur, Lucia, Dallas, TX

Outstanding Restaurant

The Compound, Santa Fe, NM

Convenience West, Marfa, TX

WINNER: Langbaan, Portland, OR

Mixtli, San Antonio, TX

Vestige, Ocean Springs, MS

Emerging Chef

Fariyal Abdullahi, Hav & Mar, New York, NY

Janet Becerra, Pancita, Seattle, WA

Nikko Cagalanan, Kultura, Charleston, SC

Ryan Fernandez is from Buffalo, NY. The winning restaurant is Masako Morishita's Perry's in Washington, D.C.

Best New Restaurant

Bar Bacetto in Waitsburg, WA

Barbs-B-Q in Lockhart, TX

Chez Noir in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

Comfort Kitchen in Dorchester, MA

WINNER: Dakar NOLA in New Orleans, LA

Hayward in McMinnville, OR

Kaya in Orlando, FL

Kisser in Nashville, TN

Oro by Nixta in Minneapolis, MN

Shan in Bozeman, MT

Outstanding Bakery

The Burque Bakehouse in Albuquerque, NM

Gusto Bread in Long Beach, CA

JinJu Patisserie in Portland, OR

Mel the Bakery in Hudson, NY

WINNER: ZU Bakery in Portland, ME

Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker

Susan Bae of Moon Rabbit in Washington, D.C.

Jesus Brazon and Manuel Brazon of Caracas Bakery in Doral and Miami, FL

WINNER: Atsuko Fujimoto of Norimoto Bakery in Portland, ME

Crystal Kass of Valentine in Phoenix, AZ

Anna Posey of Elske in Chicago, IL

Outstanding Hospitality

Crawford and Son in Raleigh, NC

Gemma in Dallas, TX

WINNER: Lula Cafe in Chicago, IL

Melba's in New York, NY

Chef Masako Morishita received the James Beard Award for Emerging Chef.

Woodford Food & Beverage in Portland, ME

Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program

WINNER: Lula Drake Wine Parlour in Columbia, SC

The Morris in San Francisco, CA

Strong Water Anaheim in Anaheim, CA

Tail Up Goat in Washington, D.C.

Waxlight Bar à Vin in Buffalo, NY

Outstanding Bar

Barr Hill Cocktail Bar in Montpelier, VT

Clavel Mezcaleria in Baltimore, MD

WINNER: Jewel of the South in New Orleans, LA

Las Ramblas in Brownsville, TX

Pacific Cocktail Haven in San Francisco, CA

Outstanding Chefs (by region)

Best Chef: California

Geoff Davis of Burdell in Oakland, CA

Rogelio Garcia of Auro in Calistoga, CA

WINNER: Lord Maynard Llera of Kuya Lord in Los Angeles, CA

Tara Monsod of Animae in San Diego, CA

Buu “Billy” Ngo of Kru in Sacramento, CA

Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)

Vinnie Cimino of Cordelia in Cleveland, OH

Jose Salazar of Mita’s in Cincinnati, OH

Sujan Sarkar of Indienne in Chicago, IL

WINNER: Hajime Sato of Sozai in Clawson, MI

Jenner Tomaska of Esmé in Chicago, IL

Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)

Tony Conte of Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana in Darnestown, MD

Jesse Ito of Royal Sushi & Izakaya in Philadelphia, PA

Matt Kern of One Coastal in Fenwick Island, DE

WINNER: Harley Peet of Bas Rouge in Easton, MD

Kevin Tien of Moon Rabbit in Washington, D.C.

Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI)

Ann Ahmed of Khâluna in Minneapolis, MN

Rob Connoley of Bulrush in St. Louis, MO

Dan Jacobs and Dan Van Rite of EsterEv in Milwaukee, WI

WINNER: Christina Nguyen of Hai Hai in Minneapolis, MN

Tim Nicholson of The Boiler Room in Omaha, NE

Best Chef: Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY)

Brandon Cunningham of Social Haus in Greenough, MT

Ali Sabbah of Mazza Cafe in Salt Lake City, UT

WINNER: Matt Vawter of Rootstalk in Breckenridge, CO

Penelope Wong of Yuan Wonton in Denver, CO

Nick Zocco of Urban Hill in Salt Lake City, UT

Best Chef: New York State

Nasim Alikhani of Sofreh in Brooklyn, NY

Atsushi Kono of Kono in New York, NY

Chris Mauricio of Harana Market in Accord, NY

WINNER: Charlie Mitchell of Clover Hill in Brooklyn, NY

Jeremy Salamon of Agi’s Counter in Brooklyn, NY

Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)

Conor Dennehy of Talulla in Cambridge, MA

Maria Meza of Dolores in Providence, RI

WINNER: David Standridge of The Shipwright's Daughter in Mystic, CT

Jake Stevens of Leeward in Portland, ME

Cara Tobin of Honey Road in Burlington, VT

Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA)

Avery Adams of Matia Kitchen in Orcas Island, WA

Kristi Brown of Communion in Seattle, WA

Josh Dorcak of MÄS in Ashland, OR

WINNER: Gregory Gourdet of kann in Portland, OR

Melissa Miranda from Seattle, WA, is one of the best chefs in Southeast, which includes GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, and WV. Other notable chefs from this region are Jamie Davis of The Hackney in Washington, NC, Rod Lassiter and Parnass Savang of Talat Market in Atlanta, GA, James London from Chubby Fish in Charleston, SC, and Robbie Robinson from City Limits Barbeque in West Columbia, SC.

However, the winner of this category is Paul Smith of 1010 Bridge in Charleston, WV.

Moving on to the South region, which covers AL, AR, FL, LA, MS, and PR, Valerie Chang of Maty's in Miami, FL, is the top chef. There are also notable mentions for Hunter Evans from Elvie's in Jackson, MS, Gabriel Hernandez from Verde Mesa in San Juan, PR, Carlos Portela from Orujo in San Juan, PR, and Arvinder Vilkhu from Saffron in New Orleans, LA.

In the Southwest region, which is made up of AZ, NM, NV, and OK, Rene Andrade of Bacanora in Phoenix, AZ, takes the top spot. Meanwhile, there are others like Jeff Chanchaleune from Ma Der Lao Kitchen in Oklahoma City, OK, Steve Kestler from Aroma Latin American Cocina in Henderson, NV, Steve Riley from Mesa Provisions in Albuquerque, NM, and Eduardo Rodriguez from Zacatlán in Santa Fe, NM.

In the state of Texas, we have Emmanuel Chavez of Tatemó in Houston, Christopher Cullum of Cullum's Attaboy in San Antonio, Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel from Birdie's in Austin, and Misti Norris from Petra & the Beast in Dallas. The winner of this category is Ana Liz Pulido of Ana Liz Taqueria in Mission, TX.

Langbaan in Portland, Oregon, is the Outstanding Restaurant winner.

Read also:

Traveling to New Orleans, you must visit Dakar NOLA, the winner of the Best New Restaurant award. The chef, Serigne Mbaye, blends his West African origins with flavors from New Orleans, creating a seasonally-changing, seafood-focused menu. (travel, Dakar NOLA)

The dining experience at Langbaan in Portland, Oregon, is unforgettable with its innovative take on traditional Thai fare, utilizing local Pacific Northwest ingredients. (foodanddrink, Langbaan)