Five Philly chefs and restaurants are 2020 nominees for the prestigious James Beard Awards — proving once again that the city’s food scene is one of the best in the country.
Spots like newcomer Kalaya and storied favorite Vetri Cucina are in the running for the prestigious culinary honor — known as the “Oscars of the food world” — which celebrates America’s delicious, diverse and sustainable food culture.
Philadelphia’s 2020 nominees were selected from an impressive pool of semifinalists (including nine local chefs and restaurants) across award categories like outstanding restaurant, best chef and best new restaurant.
Winners will be announced this summer.
Last year, six Philly restaurants and chefs made the shortlist of nominees, and modern Israeli institution Zahav won the coveted award for Outstanding Restaurant.
The James Beard Foundation and Visit Philadelphia announced an exciting new partnership in January 2020 to reach people who love food and strive to make an impact. Now, in the wake of COVID-19, the initiative will mean even more as we all seek ways to sustain small businesses, support restaurant jobs and ignite sustainable change to help fulfill the Foundation’s mission to promote Good Food for Good.
Check out the list of Philadelphia’s 2020 nominees below — and stay tuned to see which Philly chefs and restaurants win later this year.
What started out as chef-owner Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon’s search for a catering kitchen quickly morphed into a critically acclaimed BYOB sensation in Bella Vista. Now one of just a handful of nominees in the country for best new restaurant, Kalaya showcases the authentic southern Thai recipes Suntaranon learned from her mother, for whom the restaurant is named.
Where: Kalaya Thai Kitchen, 764 S. 9th Street
Fresh pasta, outstanding appetizers and a 5,000-bottle wine cellar help make chef Marc Vetri’s namesake kitchen one of best Italian restaurants in the country. The intimate dining room, guided sommelier experience and multi-course tasting make Vetri Cucina a great dining destination for a special occasion — and an obvious choice for the nomination for outstanding chef for the second year in a row.
Where: Vetri Cucina, 1312 Spruce Street
Tacos, tamales, consommé and more are on the menu at South Philly Barbacoa, the colorful and flavorful Mexican hot spot in the Italian Market. Diners love chef Cristina Martínez’s cooking as well as her community-building efforts in the neighborhood and among the city’s immigrant population. Martínez has been a semifinalist in this category every year since 2017, but this is her first nomination.
Where: South Philly Barbacoa, 1140 S. 9th Street
A semifinalist in this category for 2015 and 2017, Nick Elmi advanced to nominee in the 2020 awards, adding the prestigious honor to his Top Chef New Orleans win. At Laurel, Elmi lets the seasons dictate the menu of the French-inspired BYOB, which serves a highly curated menu of about a dozen items five nights a week.
Where: Laurel, 1617 E. Passyunk Avenue
Set in a bright dining room inside an old Philadelphia row home, Vedge is a plant-based dinner-and-happy-hour spot in Midtown Village. Owners Rich Landau and Kate Jacoby — both previous James Beard Award nominees — make incredible cruelty-free dishes like smoked eggplant rolls, seared mushroom and indulgent dairy-free desserts.
Where: Vedge, 1221 Locust Street
The Visit Philly Overnight Package — booked more than 190,000 times since 2001 — comes with free hotel parking (worth up to $100 in Center City Philadelphia), overnight hotel accommodations and choose-your-own-adventure perks.
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