Beard Awards Go to Kwame Onwuachi and Ashley Christensen

May 06, 2019 · 22 comments
Margaret Laurence (Lakeview)
I simply adoré Frenchette! I sometimes go for the divin TAGINE D’ARTICHAUTS because at $29 its the cheapest thing on the menu.
MHV (USA)
Many congrats to Kwame!
Susie B (Harlingen, TX)
I remember back in '74, we arrived in Savannah around midnight, hungry, and could only find the bus station restaurant open. We ate their grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup and to this day, still talk about it. It was that good. It's great to know Grey's has been recognized. I haven't eaten there since, but I get it. Congratulations for keeping the faith.
Chrisinauburn (Alabama)
@Susie B Hmmm. Back in 2014? Because that's when The Grey opened in the formerly abandoned bus station.
AJF (Venice)
Southwest? FnB? ??? What does this say about your coverage? This is a once a year, perhaps once ever acknowledgement? Why the oversight?
Tuvw Xyz (Evanston, Illinois)
The article balances well the ethnic, generic, and geographic diversity of the chefs. Lacking is differentiation by their religious or irreligious beliefs.
Robert Prince (Philadelphia, PA Center City)
It's unbelievable there is no mention here that Zahav in Philadelphia was named the best restaurant in America at the James Beard Awards last night
DM (New York, NY)
@Robert Prince 5th paragraph: "Last year, the pastry chef Camille Cogswell was named Rising Star Chef for her work at Zahav, in Philadelphia; this year, the modern Israeli restaurant won the award for Outstanding Restaurant."
TurandotNeverSleeps (New York)
Leave it to the New York TImes to make the fact that Zahav, a *Philadelphia* restaurant, was named best restaurant of the year, almost a footnote in its lead about this story. Yes, by all means, assert the perception that if it doesn't happen in New York City, it simply doesn't matter. Yes, by all means, continue the ridiculous adulation of Manhattan restaurants that treat patrons as if we should be paying them for the privilege of dining there. Zahav is a miracle, plain and simple - not "just" best in Philadelphia, or best in Pennsylvania, but best in the country. Lead with that! No wonder people outside New York resent New Yorkers - and that's coming from a New Yorker who was born in Philly but lived and worked most of my adult life in New York.
Kurt (Washington, DC)
@TurandotNeverSleeps Agree! Also, how do you write an entire article about James Beard award winners while highlighting the increased focus on diversity and do not mention Tom Cunanan of Bad Saint who won as Best Chef Mid-Atlantic and is Filipino-American???
S (Southeast US)
Was surprised to not see Christensen receive upfront mention in the NYT briefing to which I subscribe. It did strike me as possible Manhattan-infused xenocentrism. Congratulations to all the winners who enrich our lives through our palettes!
Molly Bloomi (Tri-State)
The Foundation lost me when they instituted a "behavior requirement"; a panacea to the industry. This, from an organization that carries the name of a man who used an outdoor shower, which overlooked a garden in full view of his neighbors. Like the Oscars, these awards are past their prime. The Foundation's effort to become more inclusive is a last-ditch attempt to stay current.
Tuvw Xyz (Evanston, Illinois)
@Molly Bloomi Tri-State I never thought much of the James Beard Foundation Awards, and I do not like the facial and head hair styles, and the tattoos of some of their choices.
Annie (NYC)
Congratulations to Zahav! Truly well deserved.
Burke (Flyover Statr)
The James Beard Awards are only given to three regions: New York, South, and Southeast? That doesn’t seem correct.
Foodie (NYC)
@Burke that's incorrect. There are more regions. The last sentence has a link to the James Beard Foundation's website.
Gordon (NY)
It's amusing that the foundation is interested in moral values of chefs since Kitchen Confidential makes it clear that those niceties are often very far from gents in professional kitchens.
WWD (Boston)
@Gordon Pssst.... things change, and so can people.
Steve (Maryland)
Are they affordable?
Mary M (Raleigh)
Very deserving award winners!
Kathy (NC)
The awards may be more inclusive, but your coverage seems not to be keeping up. Why does the Best New Chef get top billing and two paragraphs, while the Best Chef is listed second with only one? Is it because Ashley Christensen is a woman, or because her restaurant is in Raleigh? Same thing with Best New restaurant and Outstanding Restaurant. The latter doesn't even get a photo and just one sentence. Again, a female chef and this time a restaurant in Philadelphia. This is a national story, and I thought the NYT aspired to be a national news outlet. (The linking piece in the Tuesday Briefing was even worse.)
Vladimir (Florida)
Glad to see such a diverse group represented in this years awards. After highlands bar and grill pastry chef got the nod.