Today, the James Beard Foundation announced its Restaurant and Chef Awards finalists for 2020. The James Beard Awards gala, the so-called “Oscars of the culinary world,” was originally planned for tonight at Lyric Opera of Chicago. But because of COVID-19, the James Beard Foundation announced finalists in a Twitter livestream at 4 p.m.
Here are the finalists for North and South Carolina:
Outstanding Restaurant
• FIG, Charleston, SC
Outstanding Wine, Beer or Spirits Producer
• Scott Blackwell and Ann Marshall, High Wire Distilling Co., Charleston, SC
Rising Star Chef of the Year
• Ashleigh Shanti, Benne on Eagle, Asheville, NC
Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)
• Katie Button, Cúrate, Asheville, NC
• Cheetie Kumar, Garland, Raleigh, NC
Design for Alternative Eating and Drinking Places
• Citrus Club, Charleston, SC
And Congrats to the Leadership Awards Honoree
• Mark and Kerry Marhefka, Abundant Seafood, Charleston, SC