Awards Events

Leaders in restaurants, bars and hospitality, as well as beverage producers, will convene to talk about how dining trends, menu creation and consumption shape how consumers select their beverages.  

Host: Kevin Boehm, Chairman and Co-Founder, Biân; Co-CEO and Co-Founder, Boka Restaurant Group; 2019 James Beard Award Winner for Outstanding Restaurateur  

Co-hosts: Tahiirah Habibi and Richy Petrina, Awards Committee Members, James Beard Foundation 

Moderator: Rodney Williams, Trustee, James Beard Foundation and President, Diageo Beer Company 

Panelists include: 

• Gregory Gourdet, Author, Chef and Owner, Kann; 2022 James Beard Book Award Winner; 2023 James Beard Award Winner for Best New Restaurant 
• Lynnette Marrero, Co-founder, Speed Rack and Partner, Delola 
• Julia Momosé, Partner and Creative Director, Kumiko; 2022 James Beard Book Award Winner 
• Tia Polite, Sommelier, Indienne 
• Aldo Sohm, Wine Director, Le Bernardin and Sohm Bar; 2009 James Beard Award Winner for Outstanding Wine Service

Discover the transformative power of culinary leadership as chefs step into the forefront of local and global humanitarian activism. Learn how these culinary trailblazers use their platform to drive positive change, tackle social issues, and uplift communities in need both locally and abroad.              

Hosts:  

• Sarah Stegner, Chef/Owner, Prairie Grass Café; 1994 James Beard Award Winner for Rising Star Chef and 1998 James Beard Award Winner for Best Chef: Great Lakes  
• Chicago Chefs Cook                   

Moderator: Sarah Stegner 

Panelists include: 

• Matthias Merges 
• The LEE Initiative, 2024 James Beard Awards Humanitarian of the Year Award Honoree 
• Erick Williams, Owner and Executive Chef, Virtue; 2022 James Beard Award Winner, Best Chef: Great Lakes 

Explore the ways chefs and restaurateurs express their respective heritage and culture on their menus and in their restaurants—and how they adapt their foodways to new environments. Throughout the session, panelists will share stories about their career paths as well as offer advice on honoring your culture in the restaurant kitchen. 

Moderator: Jamila Robinson, Editor-in-Chief, Bon Appetit and Epicurious; James Beard Awards Emeritus Committee 

Panelists include: 

• Fariyal Abdullahi, Hav & Mar; 2024 James Beard Award Nominee for Emerging Chef 
• Susan Bae, Moon Rabbit; 2024 James Beard Award Nominee for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker  
• Serigne Mbaye, Dakar NOLA; 2024 James Beard Award Nominee for Best New Restaurant Awards  
• Jenner Tomaska, Esmé; 2024 James Beard Award Nominee for Best Chef: Great Lakes Awards 

Beverly Kim will navigate us through the challenges and triumphs of balancing parenthood with a career in the demanding restaurant industry. Discover strategies for achieving work-life balance, nurturing family connections, and fostering a supportive community within the culinary world.   

Moderator: Beverly Kim, Founder, The Abundance Setting and Chef/Owner, Anelya and Parachute Hi Fi; 2019 James Beard Award Winner for Best Chef: Great Lakes  

Panelists include:  

• Ann Ahmed, Khâluna; 2023 James Beard Award Nominee for Best Chef: Midwest 
• Hamissi Mamba & Nadia Nijimbere, Baobab Fare; 2023 James Beard Awards Nominee for Best Chef: Great Lakes 
• Darnell Reed, Luella's Southern Kitchen; 2022 James Beard Nominee for Best Chef: Great Lakes  

Whether you've been working on a compost program or higher wages for your community, advocating for SNAP expansion, the Justice for Black Farmers Act, or other Farm Bill efforts at the federal level, or needing some inspiration to better use your voice and platform for issues you care about, come share your advocacy stories—and questions—with friends and colleagues. This informal meet-up is an opportunity to share successes and challenges with others and be energized anew around the collective power of chefs, in a perfect combination of networking and action. While you'll hear more about JBF's Climate Solutions for Restaurant Survival campaign and ways to get involved in upcoming advocacy events from host Anne E. McBride, PhD, VP of Programs at JBF, you'll be the ones doing most of the talking, with the other chefs, operators, and experts in food justice and sustainability in attendance. No prior advocacy experience is needed, only a desire to work with others on making our industry and the food system more equitable and sustainable for all. 

Host:  Anne McBride, Ph.D, Vice President of Programs, James Beard Foundation