Latest news with #ItamaeAO
Axios
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Axios
Miami chef Nando Chang wins James Beard Award
Nando Chang of Itamae AO in Midtown won the Best Chef: South category in the James Beard Awards last night — just one year after his sister, Valerie, won the same award. ViceVersa in Downtown fell short in the Best New Bar category. Why it matters: The James Beard Awards are the Grammys of the food and beverage world. The big picture: Chang's win solidifies Miami as a foodie city with restaurants and talent worth celebrating. Valerie's win last year marked the first time since 2010 a Miami chef took home an award, per the Foundation. What they're saying: "It's pretty surreal," Chang told Axios after winning. "I was fortunate enough to watch my sister win this award last year, but being here in person this year [...] I feel very fortunate. We won back to back, it's pretty cool." "My family and I owe Miami so much," he said. "We're blessed to have been embraced by the community and our hope is that we continue to have a space to further grow our culture."
Time Out
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
This Miami chef took home a James Beard Award last night, just a year after his sister won
If you needed extra proof that culinary bonafides run in the Chang family, last night you got it. At the 35th annual James Beard Foundation awards—which were held on Monday, June 16 at the Lyric Opera in Chicago—Nando Chang of Itamae AO took home the coveted medal in the Best Chef: South category, following closely in the footsteps of his sister Valerie, who won the exact same award a year earlier for her own acclaimed kitchen work over at Maty's. The Chang siblings, as well as their father Fernando, opened the first iteration of Itamae in 2018, when it was a mere food counter at the then-St. Roch Market (now known as MIA Market) in the Design District. The original counter—which served Nikkei cuisine, a delicious fusion of Peruvian and Japanese food—eventually grew into a standalone restaurant across the Palm Court, before it closed in 2023 so both Nando and Valerie could work on their own solo concepts. For Valerie, that was Maty's, a Peruvian charmer named for their grandmother and for Nando, Itamae AO, a 10-seat omakase counter directly connected to its sister restaurant (literally) that turns out a beautiful and beguiling tasting menu of Japanese-Peruvian bites. Nando's refined reimaginings earned the Miami restaurant its first-ever Michelin star earlier this year, so the James Beard sparkler is simply another glorious garnish on top of one tasty year. Itamae AO was one of two Miami-based finalists among this year's James Beard nominees, with ViceVersa—the aperitivo bar off the lobby of the Elser Hotel in downtown Miami—being recognized in the Best New Bar category. Alas, that local haunt was ultimately beat out by Identidad Cocktail Bar in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Prior to Valerie Chang's 2024 victory in the Best Chef: South category, and her bro's subsequent win a year after, a Miami-based chef hadn't taken home a James Beard Award since all the way back in 2010. Along with the Miami nods, Florida also saw two other finalists this year: Sue Chin and Jason Chin of Orlando's Good Salt Restaurant Group (Seito Sushi, Reyes Mezcaleria, The Osprey, and others) in the Outstanding Restaurateur category, and Winter Park's Ômo by Jônt in the Best New Restaurant category. Congrats to all of our Florida winners and finalists!
Eater
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Eater
Miami's Own Chef Nando Chang of Itamae AO Gets a James Beard Award
Chef Nando Chang of Itamae AO in Miami has received the prestigious James Beard Award in the category of Best Chef: South. The chef from the Nikkei cuisine restaurant-in-a-restaurant was one of two nominees for the city (Italian cocktail destination ViceVersa was nominated in the Best New Bar category, though it went to Identidad Cocktail Bar in Puerto Rico), alongside two other Florida finalists that did not ultimately take home awards. Tasting menu-centric Itamae AO's Chang won over such nominees as both Matthew Cooper from Confier and Rafael Rios from Yeo's El Alma de Mexico in Bentonville, Ar.; and both Kevin Garcia from La Faena AgroCocina and Angel David Moreno Zayas from Ell Gallo Pinto in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. Overall, it was an exciting night for the industry, where the awards paid tribute to standout destinations across the country, including New York's Jungsik Yim of Jungsik as Outstanding Chef across the nation, and Boulder, Colo.'s Frasca Food and Wine for Outstanding Restaurant. A full list of winners is available here. See More:
Axios
18-04-2025
- Business
- Axios
Miami's Itamae AO gets Michelin Star as guide's Florida offerings expand
Miami added to its haul of stars by the famed Michelin Guide last night, with recently opened Itamae AO joining the prestigious club. Why it matters: Recognition by Michelin is seen as an international certification of excellence, putting restaurants and their cities on the worldwide culinary map. What they're saying: Chang said he was "very thankful" for the honor of being one of the night's four newly starred restaurants — and delivered a message to match the political moment. Asked what the award meant, he said, "It just means that people like my father, undocumented immigrants who came to this country over 30, 35 years ago, still have a future in this country." Inside the room: The stars were doled out during a ceremony yesterday evening at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando. Hundreds of people in cocktail attire attended, packing a ballroom that offered hors d'oeuvre worthy of an event celebrating the state's best chefs. Zoom in: Stars weren't the only honors on offer. Jacqueline Pirolo of Miami's Macchialina was selected for Michelin's sommelier award. The young chef award went to Juan Camilo Liscano of Palma. And the green star award, which recognizes sustainability, went to Entrenos Miami's Even Burgess and Osmel Gonzalez and Stubborn Seed's Jeremy Ford. Catch up quick: The guide expanded to Florida in 2022, becoming the fifth U.S. destination after New York, D.C., Chicago and California. At the time, only restaurants in Tampa, Orlando and Miami were eligible — because for your city to make Michelin, you have to pay up. Joining the guide this year are Pinellas County, Fort Lauderdale and the Palm Beaches. How it works: Florida's tourism board and tourism agencies representing those cities spent nearly $1.5 million to bring Michelin to the Sunshine State. That includes about $116,000 per year for three years from Visit Tampa Bay, per the Tampa Bay Times. In February, Visit St. Pete-Clearwater signed a two-year contract to pay Michelin $90,000 a year for inclusion, Brian Lowack, the CEO of Pinellas' tourism agency, told Axios. Discover the Palm Beaches and Visit Lauderdale told Axios they are each paying $90,000 per year. Zoom out: Chef's Counter at MAASS in Fort Lauderdale got a star in the city's debut year, as did Konro for West Palm Beach. Ômo by Jônt added to Orlando's star haul.
