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The James Beard Awards — the Oscars of the food world — recognized the best chefs, bartenders, and restaurants across the country last night in Chicago, but New England went home nearly empty-handed.
Of the main awards given out, New England’s only winning representation came from the category it’s expected to win in: The Best Chef Northeast, which recognizes chefs in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine.
Chef Sky Haneul Kim of Gift Horse in Providence, a raw bar and seafood restaurant, took home the medallion in that category.
Sullivan’s Castle Island, a Southie institution, also won an America’s Classic Award at the prestigious event. The decades-old concession stand was one of six local, independently-owned restaurants recognized for having timeless appeal and being beloved in their communities.
Being named a semi-finalist and finalist is also a big deal during the James Beard Awards cycle. Multiple New England restaurants, chefs, and bartenders, including Cassie Piuma of Sarma, the bar program at Merai in Brookline, and Erin Miller of Urban Hearth, received nods this year.
Below is the full list of winners:
Outstanding Restaurateur:
Outstanding Chef presented by Hilton:
Outstanding Restaurant presented by Acqua Panna® Natural Spring Water:
Emerging Chef presented by S. Pellegrino® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water:
Best New Restaurant:
Outstanding Bakery:
Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker:
Outstanding Hospitality presented by American Airlines:
Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program:
Outstanding Bar:
(New) Best New Bar:
(New) Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service:
(New) Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service:
Best Chefs presented by Capital One (by region):
Best Chef: California
Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)
Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)
Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI)
Best Chef: Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY)
Best Chef: New York State
Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)
Best Chef: Northwest & Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA)
Best Chef: South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS, PR)
Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)
Best Chef: Southwest (AZ, NM, NV, OK)
Best Chef: Texas
Previously announced 2025 honorees and winners were also celebrated on stage:
America’s Classics: The America’s Classics Award is given to locally and independently owned restaurants with timeless appeal and beloved in their region for food that reflects the character and cultural traditions of its community.
Katelyn Umholtz covers food and restaurants for Boston.com. Katelyn is also the author of The Dish, a weekly food newsletter.
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