Miami’s Chef Nando Chang of Itamae AO Gets James Beard Award for Best Chef: South
Chef Nando Chang of Itamae AO in Miami has received the prestigious James Beard Award in the category of Best Chef: South.
The chef from the Nikkei cuisine restaurant-in-a-restaurant was one of two nominees for the city (Italian cocktail destination ViceVersa was nominated in the Best New Bar category, though it went to Identidad Cocktail Bar in Puerto Rico), alongside two other Florida finalists that did not ultimately take home awards.
Tasting menu-centric Itamae AO’s Chang won over such nominees as both Matthew Cooper from Confier and Rafael Rios from Yeo’s El Alma de Mexico in Bentonville, Ar.; and both Kevin Garcia from La Faena AgroCocina and Angel David Moreno Zayas from Ell Gallo Pinto in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.
Overall, it was an exciting night for the industry, where the awards paid tribute to standout destinations across the country, including New York’s Jungsik Yim of Jungsik as Outstanding Chef across the nation, and Boulder, Colo.’s Frasca Food and Wine for Outstanding Restaurant.
A full list of winners is available here.
