Latest news with #America'sClassicsAward
Eater
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
Restaurants to Try This Weekend in Las Vegas — May 16
It's the most pressing question of the weekend: 'Where should I eat?' Here, Eater editors issue tried and true recommendations for places to check out this weekend. For late-night conversation: Peppermill and Fireside Lounge The Peppermill and Fireside Lounge is certifiably a classic — the James Beard Foundation even named it one of its 2024 America's Classics Award winners. More than 53 years after opening on the north end of the Las Vegas Strip, it still delivers all the neon-soaked, maximalist-diner charm: faux cherry blossom trees, cords of purple light, and generous plates of French toast ambrosia buried under fruit cocktail. Stop by for gravy-smothered Southern-fried steak at dinner, or swing through on the weekend in the wee hours for fishbowl cocktails and a round of appetizers. While the Peppermill proper draws the crowds, its adjacent Fireside Lounge tends to fly under the radar — which, thankfully, usually means no wait. On a recent weekend, I lucked out with open seating in the sunken conversation pit, wrapped around a glowing fire-and-water feature that's pure '70s Vegas. Drinks are gleefully oversized and over-garnished — like a chocolate-banana spin on a mudslide or an icy strawberry daiquiri. The lounge menu sticks to appetizers, but the sampler platter — coconut shrimp, chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks, onion rings, and bruschetta — could have fed the whole pit. 2985 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, NV 89109. — Janna Karel, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest For mid-morning Mediterranean fare: Cafe Landwer More than 100 years after starting as a small coffee roasting facility in Berlin, Germany in 1919, Cafe Landwer has expanded to Las Vegas. In a bright and airy space in the Boca Park shopping center, Cafe Landwer does coffee and casual Mediterranean food to impressive effect. I often like to cowork with friends at a restaurant or coffee shop once or twice during the week. A recent visit to Cafe Landwer was just right for a deadline-addled midweek change of scenery. I ordered a Belgian waffle that came as a platter heaping with thick waffles, bowls of Nutella and fresh whipped cream, and sliced strawberries and bananas. On repeat visits — ideally on slow and sleepy weekend mornings — I will again order the mezze platter. Four incredibly soft and fluffy pita pockets come poised for dipping and spreading with pleasantly earthy hummus, smoky baba ghanoush, tangy matbucha, and cool labneh sprinkled with za'atar spices. Warm spring days call if icy mint yes, the Dubai chocolate trend lives here too — croissants half-dipped in glossy chocolate, filled with pistachio cream and scattered with crispy shards of feuilletine. 8704 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 101, Las Vegas, NV 89117. — Janna Karel, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest For an easy Italian-inflected brunch without the need for a reservation: Brezza What exactly is Brezza? For the evenings, it's kind of an Italian-style steakhouse with a full line of wood-grilled proteins, but during the day, the Resorts World restaurant becomes a reasonable pizza-and-pasta spot with snacky salumi boards, chopped salad, and a burger. And yet, it's typically not very busy, which means the restaurant works as a solid brunch destination without the need for a reservation. On a visit earlier this year, we took down a few of its Roman pinsa-style pizzas that are great for sharing, topped with sausage and pepperonata peppers or prosciutto and ricotta. Lumache bolognese would've been more soporific if we didn't wash down lunch with ample iced tea and Diet Cokes, but this hearty meat pasta was quite delicious. The best part is that brunch is simply unfussy, which is always the best way to approach the weekend meal at a time when too many of them are over-the-top. 3000 South Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV 89109. — Matthew Kang, lead editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest Sign up for our newsletter.
Chicago Tribune
28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
South Side icon Lem's Bar-B-Q wins a James Beard America's Classics award
The James Beard Foundation on Wednesday named the recipients of its America's Classics Awards, meant to recognize 'locally and independently owned restaurants with timeless appeal.' Among the six honorees from across the country is the oldest Black-owned barbecue restaurant in Chicago, Lem's Bar-B-Q. The South Side family-owned staple opened in 1954 when brothers Bruce and Myles Lemons opened shop on 59th and State streets. In 1968, they added the now-iconic location in the Chatham neighborhood, which was run by their younger brother, James Lemons. His daughter, Carmen Lemons, is now the owner of Lem's Bar-B-Q and has continued the tradition with help from longtime friends and her nephews. 'Lem's Bar-B-Q is truly honored and grateful,' Carmen said in an Instagram post, celebrating the restaurant's win in the Great Lakes category for the America's Classics award. For the award, the James Beard Foundation looks for restaurants that are beloved in their region for 'food that reflects the character and cultural traditions of its community.' Lem's Bar-B-Q is the fifth Chicago restaurant to win the award. Previous winners were Sun Wah in 2018, Calumet Fisheries in 2010, Tufano's Vernon Park Tap in 2008 and The Berghoff in 1999. Lem's Bar-B-Q, in its 71st year, still serves countless rib tips and hot links to customers crossing generations, who have stayed loyal to the Lemons' family tradition of imbuing generous cuts of meat with the flavors of hickory wood, charcoal and fire. The rip tips are the ultimate draw, but the no-frills menu has fried chicken, fried shrimp and classic American sides such as potato salad, coleslaw and fries. And the slice of white bread served with each order is the quintessential vehicle for scooping every last bit of the house-made barbeque sauce. This year's America's Classics winners join the ranks of over 100 restaurants across the country that have received the award since the category was introduced in 1998. They'll be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on June 16 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. In a statement, Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation, said independent restaurants play a crucial role in the local economy. 'Through the America's Classics Award, we get to celebrate the remarkable establishments that have served as cherished pillars of culture, community and good food for decades,' said Reichenbach. 'It is an honor to recognize this year's winners, who reflect the rich depth and breadth of American food culture, and who will surely continue to have a positive impact for years to come.' The James Beard Foundation notes: Each year, the Restaurant and Chef Awards voting body and the public are invited to recommend restaurants for the America's Classics Award during the open call for recommendations from October through November. The subcommittee considers all recommendations and selects the America's Classics winners. Six of the 12 Restaurant and Chef regions are included within each awards cycle, and rotated the following cycle, meaning each region is represented every other year. To be eligible for this award, establishments must have been in existence for at least 10 years. The 2025 James Beard Award America's Classics winners are: America's Classics: Great Lakes Lem's Bar-B-Q in Chicago Current Owner: Carmen Lemons America's Classics: Mountain The Pioneer Saloon in Ketchum, Idaho Current Owners: Sheila Witmer and Duffy Witmer America's Classics: Northeast Sullivan's Castle Island in Boston Current Owner: Brendan Sullivan America's Classics: Northwest and Pacific Lucky Wishbone in Anchorage, Alaska Current Owners: Patricia Brown-Heller, Heidi Heinrich-Lervaag and Carolina Stacey
CBS News
27-02-2025
- General
- CBS News
South Side Chicago standby Lem's Bar B-Q wins James Beard Award
Whether rain, sleet, or snow may fall, people are always waiting in line for rib tips and hot links at Lem's Bar-B-Q. The South Side staple, located at 311 E. 75th St. in the Chatham neighborhood, has been around for seven decades. Now, it is getting some national recognition from the James Beard Foundation — for its food and its role in the community. "To come back here and the place is still here, still the same way — yeah, it's wonderful memories," said Leander Collins, who was waiting in line at Lem's on Wednesday. Lem's is an old and familiar place for Collins, and he's pleased to come back — the line notwithstanding. "Coming up here with my pops, standing in line waiting on some food, the smoke building up in the air, the smell of the barbecue," said Collins. "Yeah, as a kid, that brings back fond memories." Indeed, Collins has been a regular at Lem's for more than 30 years. "You wait for good stuff," he said. Lem's itself has been in business for more than 70 years. It opened in 1954. "The people that line up, those are the people that feed us," said William Lemons. "Those are the people that keep our legacy going." William Lemons and his aunt, Carmen Lemons, are carrying on a tradition that started with family — and that has had the Lemons name on it from the beginning. "My great uncles Myles and Bruce — then, they brought my grandfather in 1968, which is James B. Lemons," said William Lemons. Chatham already knows the story, but now, it is getting shared far and wide. "This is big for us," said William Lemons. The James Beard Foundation announced Lem's Bar-B-Q as one of six recipients of the America's Classics Award. The award goes to local restaurants that have timeless appeal, serve quality food, and are beloved by their communities. "Sounds just about right," said William Lemons. "My Aunt Carmen, she's had about five or six calls within the last 30 minutes asking us about this. We are very thankful, very grateful — and we do think that we're deserving of it, though." The word may have been out on Wednesday. But it was like any other day at Lem's — where you might just forget that it's February. "It smells like summertime in Chicago," said Collins/ "It definitely does." And upon reaching the end of that line, the reward is award-winning food. "Definitely worth the wait, and the 25-minute drive back home," said Collins. Lem's Bar-B-Q will be officially honored in June at the 2025 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
CBS News
26-02-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Sullivan's Castle Island receives James Beard "America's Classics" award
New England staple Sullivan's Castle Island has received national recognition from the James Beard Awards, which honored the South Boston hot dog stand one of its "America's Classics." The James Beard Foundation says its organization aims "to recognize exceptional talent and achievement in the culinary arts, hospitality, media, and broader food system." James Beard Awards "America's Classics" winner Sullivan's was named the America's Classics winner for the northeast region. There were six total winners selected for 2025 around the country. The America's Classics awards are given to "locally owned restaurants with timeless appeal that serve quality food and are beloved by their communities." "Independent restaurants play a crucial role in our local economies, and through the America's Classics Award, we get to celebrate the remarkable establishments that have served as cherished pillars of culture, community, and good food for decades," Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation, said in a statement. "It is an honor to recognize this year's winners, who reflect the rich depth and breadth of American food culture, and who will surely continue to have a positive impact for years to come." Sullivan's Castle Island Sullivan's, referred to regularly as "Sully's," opened in 1951 on Castle Island. It serves up hot dogs and signature New England foods like lobster rolls, fried fish and clam chowder during the warmer months when it is open. After closing for the winter, Sullivan's returns to business for the season this weekend in what is considered by many Bostonians to be one of the first true signs of spring. Sullivan's also has locations in the "Hub Hall" in the North End and at Hanover Crossing for those looking for a hot dog year round.
