The Carolinas Didn’t Bring Home a James Beard Award This Year

At a red-carpet event last night at the Lyric Opera in Chicago, the James Beard Awards honored restaurants and chefs in categories like best new restaurant, emerging chef, and regional best chef categories. Unfortunately, the Carolinas didn’t win any of the categories.

While there were several finalists from South and North Carolina, it didn’t happen this year. That said, being a finalist is still a big deal. Here’s who was up for an award:

Outstanding Restaurateur

• Aaron Hoskins, Sarah Simmons, and Elie Yigo, City Grit Hospitality Group (SmallSUGAR, CITY GRIT, and Il Focolare Pizzeria), Columbia, SC

Best New Restaurant

• Neng Jr.’s, Asheville, NC

Outstanding Hospitality Presented by American Airlines

• Lula Drake, Columbia, SC

Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)

• Sam Hart, Counter, Charlotte, NC

Disclosure: Some Vox Media staff members are part of the voting body for the James Beard Awards. Eater is partnering with the James Beard Foundation to livestream the awards in 2023