The Oscars of the culinary world happen each year, and I'm specifically talking about the James Beard Foundation Award Ceremony!!!! Yes, clink clink clink! Grab a glass! This year was particularly exciting to witness because part of the winning circle made me feel like I jumped straight into WAKANDA-con.
Here are the heavy hitters that had me grinning from ear to ear to see all their hard work pay off with such high honors.
Let's start with 2 DOUBLE AWARD Winners!

1. Eduardo Jordan-
Chef/Owner of June Baby and Salare Restaurant in seattle, WA.
AWARDS
1. Best Chef Northwest for Salare Restaurant
2. Best New Restaurant for JuneBaby
Bon Appétit image.
**Also named one of the sexiest chefs in America! #winning
2. Michael W. Twitty - MAKING HISTORY!
FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN AUTHOR TO WIN BEST COOKBOOK!!
AWARDS
1. Best Cookbook
"The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South" (Check it out below!)
2. Best Writing
One of the most transformative pieces of literature I've read in a long time. Order yours now! Click the image!
Continuing on to some more melanated winners...

3. Dolester Mills- Outstanding Pastry Chef
Highlands Bar
Birmingham, AL
***Coconut Pecan Cake Recipe bottom of blog post. I do not own this picture.
4. Jose Andres- Humanitarian of the Year!
He shut down some of his restaurants to zip down to Puerto Rico after the nation's power outage post Irma. Andres and his teams stayed down there, for months after funds stopped going to the island. #eljefe
5. Rodney Scott- Best Chef Southeast!
First african american to win for this region
Birmingham, AL
6. The sioux chef's indigenous kitchen- Award for American Cooking!
Native American Cookbook by Sean Sherman with Beth Dooley "committed to revitalizing Native American cuisine
7. Nina Compton- Best Chef South!
New Orleans, LA by way of St. Lucia.
8. Salt, Fat, Acid, & Heat- Cookbook for Best General Cooking
Written by Samin Nosrat
Teaching the basics of cooking through four essential elements of the kitchen.
So glad I got to celebrate this with all y'all. Also, definitely support the site and click these affiliate links and get these James Beard Award winning books!!!
Additional incredible articles and restaurant links from other notable winners...
Belinda Leong - Outstanding Baker, San Francisco
Pastry Chef of b. patisserie
Dominique Crenn - Best Chef West - San Francisco
Chef/Proprietor of Bar Crenn, Petit Crenn, and Michelin Starred Atelier Crenn
Nopalito: A Mexican Kitchen- Best Cookbook International Cuisine
Written by Stacy Adimando
Click the image to order this James Beard Award winner!
Eduardo Jordan on Hardship, Success, and Race in the Industry
Detailed literature on Jose Andres' work
Coconut Pecan Cake Recipe from Outstanding AL Pastry Chef