Italian cocktail vacation spot ViceVersa and Itamae Ao’s Nando Chang are each finalists for the 2025 James Beard Awards, recognizing excellence within the meals and hospitality business.
Vice Versa made the finalist checklist for Greatest New Bar, and Chang bought the nod within the Greatest Chef: South class.
Elsewhere in South Florida, Ômo by Jônt in Winter Park is a finalist for Greatest New Restaurant, and Sue Chin and Jason Chin (Good Salt Restaurant Group) in Orlando are up for Excellent Restaurateur.
The names had been whittled down in the present day from an extended checklist of semi-finalists which additionally included Ghee Indian Kitchen for Excellent Restaurant, Macchialina for Excellent Wine and Beverage Program, cafe La Trova for Excellent Bar, and Allegra Angelo at Vinya Desk for Excellent Skilled in Beverage service.
Elsewhere in South Florida, a number of folks and locations had been on the semifinalist checklist, together with Kayla Pfeiffer of Bicyclette Cookshop in Naples for Rising Chef, Yohann Le Bescond of his self-titled bakery in Ocala for Excellent Pastry Chef or Baker, and each Lordfer Lalicon of Kaya and Sean “Sonny” Nguyen of Domo in Orlando within the Greatest Chef class.
The group will reveal the winners in a ceremony in Chicago scheduled for June 16; entry the livestream right here. Only one Miami chef acquired a win final yr: Valerie Chang of Maty’s for Greatest Chef South.
A full checklist of finalists for 2025 is offered right here.
Disclosure: Some Vox Media workers members are a part of the voting physique for the James Beard Awards. Eater is partnering with the James Beard Basis to livestream the awards in 2025. All editorial content material is produced independently of the James Beard Basis.