02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
This celebrated Miami chef could win the award his sister won last year
A downtown aperitivo bar and a Peruvian-born chef in Miami have been named James Beard Award nominees.
The James Beard Foundation has announced its 2025 Restaurant and Chef Award nominees, and Chef Nando Chang of Itamae Ao has been nominated in the Best Chef: South category. It's the same category his sister Val Chang won in 2024 for her Peruvian restaurant Maty's in Midtown Miami; Itamae Ao is an intimate omakase counter in the back of the restaurant.
Also nominated in the Best New Bar category is the aperitivo spot ViceVersa, which opened last summer and is known for its aperitivos and pizzas.
In January, the Beard Foundation's semifinalists included Ghee Indian Kitchen in the Outstanding Restaurant category and Café La Trova for Outstanding Bar. Neither made the nominee list. The only Florida restaurant nominated is Ômo by Jônt in Winter Park, which was nominated in the Best New Restaurant category.
Winners will be announced June 16 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
An Itamae takeover of Maty's
Chang, who started the first Itamae restaurant with his sister Val and father Fernando, told the Miami Herald in January that he was thrilled to be nominated, though he wasn't sure a member of his family could win two years in a row.
'I feel like my peers respect the work, and that makes me happy,' he said. 'I'm starting to feel part of the change Miami is going through, and that's all my dad ever wanted, that we live out our dreams.'
Starting April 10, Chang will be temporarily taking over the Maty's space, bringing the original Itamae concept back for about a month. The residency, as they're calling it, will offer some original Itamae favorites, including smoked and grilled fish collars and various makis and nigiris. Itamae Ao will remain open, offering its usual tasting menu Thursday through Saturday, while Itamae will serve dinner from 5-10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Itamae Ao was also added to the 2025 Michelin Guide, along with five other area restaurants, in January.
