Erwan Heusaff, Filipino chefs nominated for ‘Oscars of the culinary world’
Photo from @erwan/Instagram
If there’s one Filipino figure who’s becoming a fixture at the annual James Beard Awards, often dubbed the Oscars of the culinary world, it’s undoubtedly Erwan Heusaff as his Filipino media company, FEATR, has clinched three works in nomination across Broadcast Media Award categories.
The team’s dedication to showcasing Filipino culture, cuisine and compelling narratives over a hot meal through digital platforms has earned them recognition in both Visual Media-Long Form and Docuseries Visual Media categories.
On their Instagram, they wrote, “Thanks to everyone who worked with us on these stories – the people who shared their knowledge with us and the great storytellers who made these documentaries come to life.”
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This success follows the internet personality’s previous win at the James Beard Awards in 2023, where he, alongside chefs Tim Flores and Margarita Lorenzana-Maske, secured a win for his Instagram account, @erwan.
With a steadfast commitment to uniting people through the universal language of food, FEATR continues to make significant strides in elevating Filipino representation within the culinary landscape.
“It’s been truly a humbling experience to collaborate with the country’s best artisans and the hardworking Filipinos around the globe who continue to push the boundaries of Pinoy food and heritage,” they added.
Meanwhile, Abi Balingit, the mastermind behind The Dusky Kitchen blog, has also been honored in the Baking and Desserts category for her cookbook, “Mayumu: Filipino-American Desserts Remixed.”
Expressing her elation on Instagram, Balingit shared, “LITERALLY CRYING thank you so much @beardfoundation for the Baking and Desserts cookbook nomination for #MAYUMU!!! Never in a million years would I have thought this would happen for me.”
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Known for her imaginative Filipino-inspired desserts, Balingit rose to prominence during the pandemic by extending a helping hand through charitable endeavors.
“Thank you @safest and @harvestbooks for believing in this dream of mine!! Please enjoy this selfie when I found out while working on my bed sending emails for my day job,” she added.
In another nod to Filipino culinary excellence, internet sensation Abi Marquez, fondly known as the “Lumpia Queen,” has also secured a nomination for the James Beard Foundation Broadcast Media Award in the Social Media Account category.
Marquez’s nomination underscores the burgeoning impact of social media in shaping culinary discourse and highlights her engaging content that resonates widely.
Named after an American chef, the James Beard Awards have long been synonymous with honoring culinary innovation and talent since 1990.
