These Fil-Am chefs are shortlisted for the 2024 James Beard Awards

Fil-Am chefs included in list of 2024 James Beard Awards semifinalists | Photo from the James Beard Foundation website

From the coveted Michelin star to noteworthy placements on the World’s and Asia’s 50 Best lists, we’re also seeing more Filipinos on awards lists like that of the 2024 James Beard Awards.

Seeing more Filipino names on these respected lists comes as no surprise. After all, Filipino cuisine has aggressively been making its mark in the global food scene in recent years, with more and more restaurants, chefs, and even publications and content creators shining the spotlight on our dishes, ingredients, and flavors.

This is not the first time for Filipinos and Filipino-American chefs and food professionals to be recognized by the James Beard Foundation. But this year, we once again see several Filipino-American chefs listed among the semifinalists.

The executive chef of modern Asian-American restaurant Animae in San Diego, Tara Monsod, and chef Lord Maynard Llera of Los Angeles’ Kuya Lord, are among the semifinalists for the Best Chef: California category. Joe Fontelera, chef of Boonie’s Filipino Restaurant in Chicago, is also one of the Best Chef: Great Lakes semifinalists.

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Among the Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific semifinalists are Melissa Miranda of the community-driven Filipinx restaurant Musang, and Sheldon Simeon of Tiffany’s Restaurant and Bar in Hawaii. Chris Mauricio of Harana Market is also among the listed nominees for the Best Chef: New York State category.

To qualify for the Best Chefs category, nominees must not only demonstrate “high standards in their culinary skills and leadership abilities,” but they must also be chefs who have shown efforts in fostering a sustainable work culture.

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Meanwhile, the Outstanding Chef category recognizes chefs with “high culinary standards and has served as a positive example for other food professionals.” Aaron Verzosa of the intimate Pacific Northwest-Filipino restaurant Archipelago in Seattle is part of the “Outstanding Chef” shortlist.

Kaya in Orlando is listed among the semifinalists for Best New Restaurant, while Kimmie and Josh McIntosh of the Philippine-inspired pop-up bakery Milkfish Bakeshop are included in the Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker list.

The James Beard Awards, given by the nonprofit of the same name, aims to “celebrate, support, and elevate the people behind America’s food culture and champion a standard of good food anchored in talent, equity, and sustainability.” 

The finalists will be announced on Apr. 3, while the awards ceremony will be held in Chicago on June 10.