Buffalo didn't win James Beards, but nominations remain 'indicative' of city's culinary direction
Neither Ryan Fernandez of Southern Junction nor Waxlight Bar à Vin won in their respective categories during the James Beard Foundation's awards ceremony in Chicago on Monday night. But it's Buffalo restaurants Southern Junction and Waxlight Bar à Vin were not awarded their James Beard Awards at the James Beard Foundation's awards ceremony in Chicago, but this year marked the first time since 2003 that a local restaurant progressed to the final round for a James Beard award since 2003. The award is often called the culinary equivalent to an Oscar and is considered an honor. Masako Morishita, a chef at Perry's in Washington D.C., won Emerging Chef, the award for which Ryan Fernandez was nominated for. Lula Drake Wine Parlour in Columbia, S.C. won Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program. Jess Railey-Forster, co-owner and sommelier of Waxlight, said the decision to nominate two Buffalo restaurants as finalists indicates a shift in the city's culinary direction.
نشرت : من 3 اسابيع بواسطة Francesca Bond في Lifestyle
This isn't the year for Buffalo to take home its first James Beard award in more than two decades.
Neither Ryan Fernandez of Southern Junction nor Waxlight Bar à Vin won in their respective categories during the James Beard Foundation's awards ceremony in Chicago on Monday night.
But it's still the first year since 2003 that a local restaurant progressed to the final round for a James Beard award, which is often called the culinary equivalent to an Oscar. Only one Buffalo restaurant, Anchor Bar, has previously won a James Beard award.
Masako Morishita, a chef who makes Japanese comfort food at Perry's in Washington D.C., won Emerging Chef, the award for which Fernandez was nominated. Lula Drake Wine Parlour in Columbia, S.C., beat Waxlight to win Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program.
But similar to the Oscars, to be nominated for a James Beard award is an honor itself.
Jess Railey-Forster, co-owner and sommelier of Waxlight (27 Chandler St.), said in April that she thinks the James Beard Foundation's decision to nominate two Buffalo restaurants as finalists is "indicative of what Buffalo has been working toward, and the direction it’s been moving toward for a few years now."
Southern Junction (365 Connecticut St.) and Waxlight started in the same building on Chandler Street that served as an incubator for new businesses. Both restaurants were offering something new to Buffalo at the time. Fernandez's "Tex-ish" barbecue blends authentic Texas barbecue with South Indian flavors, while Waxlight's menu is ever evolving with innovative ingredient combinations and international wines from small producers.
Fernandez credits incubator spaces, such as the small kitchen in which he started out at Chandler Street and Westminster Economic Development Initiative's West Side Bazaar and Downtown Bazaar, for fostering new culinary concepts in Buffalo.
"It gives a lot more opportunity to people who want to put their ideas out there," Fernandez said in April. "There's more opportunity in Buffalo right now to get in and do something different and it's very well-received."
المواضيع: Food & Drink