The annual James Beard Awards — hailed as the biggest night for all things food and drink — took place Monday at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. This year’s showcase celebrated culinary achievements spanning across cuisines and a myriad of acclaimed chefs, restaurateurs, bartenders and other industry professionals.
Chefs Marcus Samuelsson, Nyesha Arrington, Richard Blais, Tim Flores and Genie Kwon presented the regional awards, which spotlighted chefs in different parts of the nation. Paul Smith, chef at 1010 Bridge in Charleston, West Virginia, and winner of Best Chef: Southeast, made history by becoming the first West Virginian to take home a James Beard Award. “Two words that have never been mentioned here before: West Virginia,” Smith said during his acceptance speech.
