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James Beard Awards set to be announced tonight for 2025. Here are the N.Y. finalists to watch.
The 2025 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards are being held Monday in Chicago.
Half a dozen New York finalists are in the running for top honors, along with five chefs battling it out for best in the state. New Jersey and Connecticut also have chefs in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast categories.
CLICK HERE to watch the live stream beginning at 6 p.m.
Local James Beard Award finalists to watch
Outstanding Restauranteur: Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr, Frenchette, Le Veau d'Or, and Le Rock, New York, NY
Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr, Frenchette, Le Veau d'Or, and Le Rock, New York, NY Outstanding Chef: Gabriel Kreuther, Gabriel Kreuther, New York, NY & Jungsik Yim, Jungsik, New York, NY
Gabriel Kreuther, Gabriel Kreuther, New York, NY & Jungsik Yim, Jungsik, New York, NY Best New Restaurant: Penny, New York, NY
Penny, New York, NY Outstanding Hospitality: Atomix, New York, NY
Atomix, New York, NY Outstanding Professionals in Beverage Service: Cassandra Felix, Daniel, New York, NY
Cassandra Felix, Daniel, New York, NY Outstanding Professionals in Cocktail Service: Ignacio "Nacho" Jimenez, Superbueno, New York, NY
Best Chef: New York State
Nasim Alikhani, Sofreh, Brooklyn, NY
Ryan Fernandez, Southern Junction Barbecue, Buffalo, NY
Eiji Ichimura, Sushi Ichimura, New York, NY
Atsushi Kono, Kono, New York, NY
Vijay Kumar, Semma, New York, NY
Best Chef Mid-Atlantic: Dan Richer, Razza, Jersey City, NJ
Best Chef Northeast: Brian Lewis, The Cottage, Westport, Conn.
What is the James Beard Award?
The awards are one of the culinary industry's biggest nights, celebrating the talent, innovation and dedication of chefs across the country. This year marks the 35th annual celebration.
There are 15 main categories:
Outstanding Restaurateur
Outstanding Chef
Outstanding Restaurant
Emerging Chef
Best New Restaurant
Outstanding Bakery
Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker
Outstanding Hospitality
Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program
Outstanding Bar
Best New Bar (New)
Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service (New)
Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service (New)
Best Chefs (by region)
America's Classics
CLICK HERE for a closer look at the guidelines, and CLICK HERE for the full list of nominees.
What's new this year?
The James Beard Foundation is beginning to introduce Beverage Awards categories in order to better acknowledge the beverage industry. This year, there are three new categories for Best New Bar, Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service and Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service.
This year will also feature new Impact Awards, honoring those who actively work to create a more equitable, sustainable and economically viable industry for producers, workers and consumers.
The 2025 honorees are:
Angie Craig, U.S. Representative (MN-2); Ranking Member, House Committee on Agriculture
Brandon Edwin Chrostowski, CEO, EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute
Anthony Edwards Jr., CEO and Co-Founder, EatOkra
Seanicaa Edwards Herron, Founder and Executive Director, Freedmen Heirs Foundation
Dune Lankard, President and Founder, Native Conservancy
The foundation also named Chad Houser as the 2025 Humanitarian of the Year Award honoree and Toni Tipton-Martin as the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award honoree.
