In the culinary arts, there is no better honor than to be awarded one of the prestigious James Beard Awards. With various categories and a thorough consideration and assessment process, the James Beard Awards recognize restaurants and chefs for excellence in the food and hospitality industry.
The competition is fierce and we extend our sincere and exuberant congratulations to all nominees and award recipients for their exceptional talent, dedication, and achievement. Many Tripleseat and Eventup customers were nominated and we are delighted to celebrate those who have been award recipients.
Outstanding Chef – Mashama Bailey – The Grey in Savannah, Georgia
We are excited that Mashama Bailey, chef, and co-founder of The Grey in Savannah, Georgia, was awarded Outstanding Chef at the 2022 James Beard Awards. Bailey is trained in French technique but at The Grey, she creates rich soulful American Southern cuisine. In her acceptance speech, Bailey expressed profound gratitude that her award will encourage diversity in the culinary field.
Best New Restaurant – Owamni in Minneapolis, Minnesota
A Tripleseat Direct customer from the beginning for both private dining and catering, Owamni by THE Sioux Chef won the Best New Restaurant of 2022. Offering innovative Native American cuisine, Owamni uses indigenous ingredients and authentic culinary techniques to produce what can be described as magnificent food and an important step in repairing American history.
Outstanding Hospitality – Cúrate in Asheville, North Carolina
Cúrate Bar de Tapas was awarded Outstanding Hospitality and no doubt this restaurant does it right. According to the Cúrate website, they extend hospitality through effort and care each day. Cúrate serves Spanish tapas as well as offers private dining experiences and an online shop filled with the flavors and culinary traditions of Spain.
Leadership Award Honoree – Irene Li – Co-founder, Mei Mei Dumplings in Boston, MA
Mei Mei Dumplings is an esteemed local favorite in Boston, and owner Irene Li has been named a 2022 Leadership Award Honoree, the youngest recipient ever. In addition to being a six-time James Beard Foundation Rising Star Chef of the Year semifinalist, she has won numerous culinary awards. She has worked to drive sustainable sourcing of ingredients, fair employment practices, and food security. She is a co-founder of Mei Mei in Boston and Prepshift, a tool that helps restaurateurs build teams.
You can read more about the James Beard awards at jamesbeard.org.
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