Each year, the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards recognize excellence in the culinary arts, food and beverage, and hospitality industries. Last year, in an amazing twist of fate, chef Nando's sister, chef Valerie Chang, won the prestigious honor of Best Chef: South in 2024 for her work at her Peruvian restaurant Maty's in Midtown. Chang's menu at Maty's is a modern take on comida criolla, the traditional Peruvian food of her upbringing in Chiclayo, Peru.
This year, her brother gets to shine with his potential win in the exact same category, Best Chef: South.
Below, we explore exactly what will be at stake when the James Beard Award Restaurant and Chef Award winners are announced on Monday, June 16.
The ViceVersa Negroni is one of the seven best Negronis in Miami and the bar is now a James Beard Award finalist
R.C. Visuals photo
Best New Bar Nominee - ViceVersa
ViceVersa has earned a coveted spot in the Best New Bar category, and for good reason. Named one of New Times' 7 Best New Bars of 2024, the Italian aperitivo bar in downtown Miami, helmed by acclaimed Miami bartender Valentino Longo, opened over the summer of 2024 with authentic Italian cocktails and a selection of pizzas that even nonna would approve of.At ViceVersa, you'll find Italian influences in every detail, including its menu that is full of negroni options, including the "ViceVersa Negroni" made with ViceVersa Mi-To (the house dolce amaro blend and Bombay Sapphire), as well as the "Negroni Sbagliato" made with ViceVersa Mi-To, Franciacorta (an Italian sparkling wine). The menu also has three other sections dedicated to other spirits and cocktails. But the real star of the show might be the neo-Neapolitan pizza made with daily stretched mozzarella and local flours that undergo a 24-to-48-hour cold fermentation.
Chef Nando Chang took center stage with his first solo restaurant, Itamae AO, now he is a James Beard Award finalist for Best Chef South.
Photo by Michael Cedeño
Best Chef: South Nominee - Nando Chang
Just nearly one year after opening in Midtown Miami in May of 2024, chef Nando Chang is making a bang. Nominated for Best New Chef: South, the acclaimed chef has made a name for himself with his untraditional Japanese-Peruvian-influenced omakase restaurant. This style of cuisine is called Nikkei. The Nikkei restaurant features an eight-course unconventional omakase menu served at two nightly seatings at the restaurant's ten-seat counter. Each dish is inspired by Nando's past, his upbringing, and the city of Miami. It blends Peruvian, Japanese, and tropical Miami flavors with a cool and unpretentious attitude—very much like the chef himself.
Chang and his family also own award-winning Peruvian restaurant Maty's right next door and B-Side Sushi in Wynwood. As most readers know, the aforementioned Maty's, owned by his sister, who won Best New Chef: South last year, has won countless awards.
Now, it's Nando's turn.
Nando Chang is looking to make his own mark on the culinary scene while still paying homage to his family, utilizing some ingredients and techniques from the previous iterations of Itamae.
Photo by Michael Cedeño
Other Florida Restaurants and Chefs to Look Out For
Meanwhile, South Florida’s talent extends beyond the Magic City. Over in Winter Park, Ômo by Jônt is a finalist for Best New Restaurant, and Orlando’s powerhouse restaurateurs Sue Chin and Jason Chin (Good Salt Restaurant Group) are competing for Outstanding Restaurateur.These finalists emerged from a fiercely competitive field of semifinalists, which included local standouts like Ghee Indian Kitchen (Outstanding Restaurant), Macchialina (Outstanding Wine and Beverage Program), Café La Trova (Outstanding Bar), and Allegra Angelo of Vinya Table (Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service).
The semifinalist list also featured Kayla Pfeiffer (Bicyclette Cookshop, Naples) for Emerging Chef, Yohann Le Bescond (Ocala) for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker, and both Lordfer Lalicon (Kaya) and Sean “Sonny” Nguyen (Domo, Orlando) for Best Chef: South.
The winners will be announced at the 35th annual James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on Monday, June 16, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Tickets can be purchased online.
