Chef Nando Chang of Itamae AO in Miami has acquired the celebrated James Beard Award within the class of Greatest Chef: South.
The chef from the Nikkei delicacies restaurant-in-a-restaurant was one in every of two nominees for town (Italian cocktail vacation spot ViceVersa was nominated within the Greatest New Bar class, although it went to Identidad Cocktail Bar in Puerto Rico), alongside two different Florida finalists that didn’t in the end take residence awards.
“As bittersweet as this second is for a lot of immigrants in America, I wish to say I couldn’t be prouder or really feel stronger to be part of this stunning nation,” mentioned Chang in his acceptance speech. “All meals is immigrant, and immigrants make America nice.”
Tasting menu-centric Itamae AO’s Chang gained over such nominees as each Matthew Cooper from Confier and Rafael Rios from Yeo’s El Alma de Mexico in Bentonville, Ar.; and each Kevin Garcia from La Faena AgroCocina and Angel David Moreno Zayas from Ell Gallo Pinto in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.
General, it was an thrilling night time for the business, the place the awards paid tribute to standout locations throughout the nation, together with New York’s Jungsik Yim of Jungsik as Excellent Chef throughout the nation, and Boulder, Colo.’s Frasca Meals and Wine for Excellent Restaurant.
A full checklist of winners is obtainable right here.