James Beard Awards: San Francisco’s Brandon Jew wins ‘Best Chef: California’

The resilience of America’s restaurant trade was celebrated Monday evening in Chicago because the James Beard Basis Awards returned after an extended pandemic hiatus.

“You popped up, you went outdoor and also you delivered,” Lori Lightfoot, mayor of the host metropolis, mentioned with an emphasis on the “delivered” as she congratulated the professionals in attendance.

One of many first awards of the evening, Humanitarian of the 12 months, went to Grace Younger, the cookbook creator and culinary historian who chronicled the plight of the nation’s Chinatowns — significantly New York and her hometown, San Francisco — when the eating places and markets had been pressured to close down early in 2020.

The wrestle continues, she mentioned in her acceptance speech, noting that on a latest journey via S.F. Chinatown, she counted 46 shuttered storefronts.

“They want our assist now greater than ever,” she added, imploring diners throughout the nation to do extra. “Simply present up. Go to your native Chinatown. Spend cash.”

Within the regional cooks class, Brandon Jew of Mister Jiu’s restaurant — a standout in San Francisco’s Chinatown — was honored because the Finest Chef in California. He additionally received a Beard Award for his cookbook, written with Tienlon Ho, “Mister Jiu’s in Chinatown: Recipes and Tales from the Birthplace of Chinese language American Meals” (Ten Velocity Press).

The popularity, Jew mentioned, reveals that “Chinese language meals deserves to be held in as excessive esteem as some other delicacies.”

He thanked his employees for rising to the event throughout the difficult COVID period and paid tribute to his S.F. mentors, Judy Rodgers, Michael Tusk and his grandparents.

Jew was one among 5 finalists for the James Beard Basis honor. The opposite honorees had been James Syhabout of Commis in Oakland, Pim Techamuanvivit of Nari in San Francisco, Bryant Ng of Cassia restaurant in Santa Monica and Sarintip “Jazz” Singsanong of Jitlada in Los Angeles.

A spotlight from the ceremony was legendary Bay Space chef Martin Yan’s acceptance of his beforehand introduced Lifetime Achievement Award.

After a video tribute that advised Yan’s decades-long success story, he was invited to the stage to take a bow and take the microphone.

The ever-exuberant Yan talked of his early years on TV as one of many few cooking present hosts (together with Julia Little one and the Galloping Connoisseur); of inspiring others to share the enjoyment of cooking; of the pleasure he derives from his viewers and followers.

He then turned to speaking concerning the tens of hundreds {of professional} cooks world wide who’re sweating as they toil in business kitchens for lengthy hours and solely modest pay. He grabbed the medallion from round his neck and held it up: “This one is for you.”

Particulars: Discover the complete checklist of winners on the James Beard Basis web site, www.jamesbeard.org.