Roll out the red carpet, food lovers (and watch the crumbs). On Wednesday, Jan. 22, the James Beard Awards announced the 2025 semifinalists vying for what’s described as one of the culinary world’s most prestigious prizes.
As you’d expect, Nashville is well represented with five nominations in three categories. Before we dish the deets, save the dates: Finalists are revealed on April 2 before winners are chosen on June 16.
Outstanding Restaurateur
Benjamin Goldberg, Max Goldberg, and Josh Habiger with Strategic Hospitality (behind Bastion, Locust, Kisser, and others) are among 20 groups up for the award. The Goldbergs founded the company in 2006 and are no strangers to the category. Strategic Hospitality was previously nominated on five other occasions, the most recent being in 2020.
Best New Restaurant
The wine bar and restaurant owned by sommelier Alex Burch opened inside a renovated East Nashville church in fall 2023 with a food program led by chef Colby Rasavong. If you haven’t yet been, we’ll let the 125+ wine options and its press recognition do the talking.
Best Chef, Southeast
Julio Hernandez | Maiz de la Vida
Hernandez opened Maiz de la Vida as a food truck outside East Nashville’s Chopper Tiki before securing his first brick-and-mortar location in the Gulch’s Paseo South Gulch development last year.
Jake Howell | Peninsula
Chef Jake Howell debuted his Eastland restaurant serving Spanish and French fare in 2017. Last year, it landed on the New York Times’ “The 25 Best Restaurants in Nashville Right Now” roundup alongside fellow East Nashville semifinalists Bad Idea and Noko.
Dung “Junior” Vo | Noko
From Noko’s recognition as Yelp’s “Best New Restaurant in the South” to launching the restaurant’s new omakase neighbor Kase x Noko last month, chef Dung “Junior” Vo has been busy.
