James Beard Awards!
So just as Hollywood announced its Oscar nominees, Atlanta's restaurant scene found out who received nominations for the Restaurant Oscars this week! The 2024 James Beard Award semifinalists have been announced! Last year was a rare triumph for the city when the Deer and the Dove chef Terry Koval grabbed the coveted "Best Chef: Southeast" medal at the 2023 awards ceremony. Here are this year's candidates:
Best Chef: Southeast
Arnaldo Castillo, Tio Lucho's in Poncey-Highland
Erika Council, Bomb Biscuit Co. in Old Fourth Ward
Rod Lassiter and Parnass Savang, Talat Market in Summerhill
Duane Nutter, Southern National in Summerhill
Pete Amadhanirundr, Puma Yu's in Athens, GA
Atsushi Hayakawa, Hayakawa at Star Metals in Home Park—which also won a
Michelin Star recently.
Outstanding Hospitality
Cooks & Soldiers at Howell Mill and 14th Street in Home Park
Outstanding
Restaurateur
Kimball Brienza and Stephen Palmer, O-Ku Sushi, Indigo Road Hospitality in
Charleston, SC (the group also owns O-Ku Sushi, Indaco, and Oak Steakhouse in
Atlanta)
The next step:
survive and advance to the finals announced on April 3 and then the winners are announced at a live gala ceremony on June 10 in Chicago. Good luck to all the ATL candidates!
Today is also National Blueberry Pancake Day! Here are some of my favorites:
Buttermilk Kitchen in Buckhead
Superica—hot cakes on weekends
Pancake Social—2 locations
Ria's Bluebird on Memorial Drive
Hen Mother Cookhouse in John's Creek—baked pancakes
And the OG Dutch Baby at Original Pancake House is always great