Latest news with #Lem'sBar-B-Q
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.
