This Austin restaurant owner is a James Beard Award finalist for his 'Turkey Book'
Local culinary luminary Jesse Griffiths, owner of the acclaimed Dai Due restaurant in Cherrywood, is a finalist for a 2025 James Beard Media Award in the Single Subject book category for "The Turkey Book: A Chef's Journal of Hunting and Cooking America's Bird." The nomination underscores Griffiths' multifaceted expertise as a chef, hunter and author.
Last month, Birdie's co-owner Arjav Ezekiel was also recognized as a James Beard Award finalist for Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service.
Griffiths' influence extends beyond his literary achievements. As Dai Due's owner, he has been instrumental in shaping Austin's distinctive culinary identity. The restaurant, which began as a supper club and farmer's market stand in 2014, embodies a strong commitment to seasonal and locally sourced ingredients, primarily from the Lone Star State. This dedication to Texan regional bounty has garnered national recognition.
The James Beard Awards are some of the most coveted honors in the American culinary world. Established by the James Beard Foundation, the awards recognize talent in various categories, including chefs, restaurants, journalists, authors and other food professionals. The Media Awards specifically celebrate achievements in food and beverage-related content across books, broadcast media and journalism.
Griffiths' nomination falls in the Single Subject category, which honors books with a focused culinary theme, exploring a specific ingredient, dish, or cooking method through recipes and narratives. "The Turkey Book" aligns with this category, offering an exploration of wild turkey from the hunt to the plate.
"The Turkey Book," offers readers a journey through a single turkey season. Griffiths chronicles his travels across four distinct regions of the United States, joining hunters and chefs in pursuit of America's iconic native bird. Beyond the hunting narratives, Griffiths' book offers a guide to preparing wild game. Readers will find step-by-step instructions for plucking and skinning, detailed butchery sequences, and over 100 recipes that utilize every part of the bird. The book also includes photography capturing the diverse habitats of the wild turkey.
Griffiths won a Single Subject James Beard Award in 2022 for "The Hog Book."
Earlier this year, USA Today lauded Dai Due as one of the best restaurants in the country, highlighting its confident expression of Texan cuisine under the guidance of executive chef Janie Ramirez. The review specifically praised dishes like the smoked porterhouse hog with apple butter and tallow-roasted mushrooms with whipped cherry lard, underscoring the restaurant's innovative yet deeply rooted approach.
The James Beard Media Award winners will be announced at a ceremony in Chicago on June 14. Griffiths' nomination not only celebrates his individual contribution to food writing but also shines a light on the culinary scene he has helped cultivate in Austin.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Dai Due's owner recognized as James Beard Awards finalist for his book
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