Palestinian-American chef Rafidi, who dedicated the award to the Palestinian people, also owns Yellow, a cafe and restaurant in Georgetown, which recently announced plans to open a Union Market later this year. He received his 2023 Outstanding Chef Medal, Rob Rubba, from DC’s plant-based favorite Oyster Oyster.
Washington, D.C., area restaurants took home two more awards this year at the Beard Awards, held Monday at the Lyric Opera in Chicago. These awards are among the highest honors that chefs, restaurants and their operators can receive nationally, and they recognize excellence in cooking and restaurant operations. Prizes are also awarded for cookbooks, food literature and journalism.
Masako Morishita of popular Japanese fusion restaurant Adams Morgan Perry’s opened the evening with the Best Emerging Chef award, one of the most prestigious awards of the event. Morishita, a Kobe native and the first Japanese woman to hold this position at Perry’s, emphasizes creativity in her cooking. “This is my wildest American dream come true,” she exclaimed as she accepted the medal, and repeated to the Post. “The food I cook is Japanese comfort food, which has been overshadowed by other types of Japanese cuisine. I hope I have made all Japanese mothers proud.
In another major win, Harley Peet won Best Chef in the Mid-Atlantic region. His restaurant, Bas Rouge in Easton, Maryland, offers international fusion flavors, including beef tataki with dehydrated kimchi and grilled shrimp stuffed with jalapeños.
“It’s still sinking in,” he told the Post. “Bringing (the award) home to the East Coast – being the first to do it is super special.” We don’t have the luxury of having a never-ending flow of customers. Our dining rooms are not always full. So I hope that helps (the East Coast).
DC also took home an honor in the media categories, announced Saturday: “The World Central Kitchen Cookbook” by José Andrés, his nonprofit World Central Kitchen and Sam Chapple-Sokol won best international cookbook, which recognizes books “focused on the food or culinary traditions of countries, regions, or communities outside the United States.”
Several other finalists from the Washington, DC area were also honored at the awards ceremony: Susan Bae and Kevin Tien of Moon Rabbit, nominated for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker and Best Mid-Atlantic Chef, respectively; Mexican restaurant in Baltimore Clavel Mezcaleria, nominated for outstanding bar; Tail Up Goat, nominated for its exceptional wine and other beverage program; and Hollis Wells Silverman of Eastern Point Collective, nominated for best restaurateur.
Gn entert
News Source : www.washingtonpost.com
