Philadelphia, PA - On 5 June, the annual James Beard Awards, which include 23 categories, were presented at the Lyric Theater of Chicago. These included the best chef in the world, best restaurant, best bakery and best bar, best-emerging chef and best regional chef, and several other awards for leadership and achievements within the culinary field. This event has been dubbed "the Oscars for the food industry."
James Beard Awards Names Friday Saturday Sunday as Outstanding Restaurant
Philadelphia's own Friday Saturday Sunday was named Outstanding Restaurant. The restaurant, known for its "eclectic all American cuisine," located at Rittenhouse Square for over 40 years. Its current owners, Chad and Hanna Williams purchased and renovated the space. They reconstructed the kitchen but kept the original name to pay homage to its history. Each guest receives an eight-course rotating tasting menu.
Other notable winners were In an Outstanding Category, the Peruvian American Chef Erik Ramirez of Brooklyn's Llama Inn, and the Japanese American Chef Niki Nakayama, of the two Michelin-starred restaurants n/naka, in Los Angeles, may have received a great deal of media attention, but it was Rob Rubba, of Oyster Oyster, in Washington DC who won the award.
Natalia Vallejo, the Best Chef for the South of Cocina al Fondo, San Juan, Puerto Rico, became the first Puerto Rican to win a James Beard Award. Yoli Tortilleria, a Kansas City-based bakery known for stone-ground tortillas, won the first Outstanding Bakery award.
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Joy Franklin
Food and Event Writer
My joy is aimed at food and foodie lovers. I enjoy covering trends, issues, and all things Philly
