Announcing The 2017 James Beard Award Winners

2017 James Beard Award Winners
2017 James Beard Award Winners

As anybody in the industry knows, even being nominated for a James Beard Award is an incredible honor. Yesterday, the culinary industries top chefs and leaders got together for the James Beard Foundation Restaurant Chef Awards. The award ceremony was held at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, where this year’s winners were announced.

Check out the full list of the 2017 James Beard Award Winners here and congratulations to all!

  1. Best New Restaurant: Le Coucou, NYC
  2. Outstanding Baker: Mark Furstenberg, Bread Furst, Washington, D.C.
  3. Outstanding Bar Program: Arnaud’s French 75 Bar, New Orleans
  4. Outstanding Chef: Michael Solomonov, Zahav, Philadelphia
  5. Outstanding Pastry Chef: Ghaya Oliveira, Daniel, NYC
  6. Outstanding Restaurant: Topolobampo, Chicago
  7. Outstanding Restaurateur: Stephen Starr, Starr Restaurants (Le Coucou, Serpico, Upland, and others), Philadelphia
  8. Outstanding Service: Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Pocantico Hills, NY
  9. Outstanding Wine Program: Canlis, Seattle
  10. Outstanding Wine, Spirits, or Beer Professional: Sam Calagione, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, DE
  11. Rising Star Chef of the Year: Zachary Engel, Shaya, New Orleans
  12. Best Chef: Great Lakes: Sarah Grueneberg, Monteverde, Chicago
  13. Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic: Greg Vernick, Vernick Food & Drink, Philadelphia
  14. Best Chef: Midwest: Kevin Nashan, Sidney Street Cafe, St. Louis
  15. Best Chef: New York City: Marco Canora, Hearth
  16. Best Chef: Northeast: Andrew Taylor and Mike Wiley, Eventide Oyster Co., Portland, ME
  17. Best Chef: Northwest: Greg Denton and Gabrielle Quiñónez Denton, Ox Portland, OR
  18. Best Chef: South: Rebecca Wilcomb, Herbsaint, New Orleans
  19. Best Chef: Southeast: Steven Satterfield, Miller Union, Atlanta
  20. Best Chef: Southwest: Hugo Ortega, Hugo’s, Houston
  21. Best Chef: West: Corey Lee, Benu, San Francisco

Restaurant Design Awards: 75 Seats and Under

Firm: AvroKO

  • Summer Fancy Food Show 2025
  • Imperial Dade
  • RATIONAL USA
  • BelGioioso Burrata
  • Modern Line Furniture
  • SFA Winter Fancy Faire 2026
  • Day & Nite
  • Barilla Professional Pasta
  • Red Gold BBQ
  • Easy Ice
  • Inline Plastics
  • The NAMA Show

Designers: Kristina O’Neal, William Harris, Adam Farmerie, Greg Bradshaw

Project: SingleThread, Healdsburg, California

Restaurant Design Awards: 76 Seats and Over

Firm: Meyer

DavisDesigners: Will Meyer, Gray Davis, Katie McPherson

Project: St. Cecilia, Atlanta

2017 James Beard Foundation America’s Classics

  1. Bertha’s Kitchen, North Charleston, SC
    Owners: Julia Grant, Linda Pinckney and Sharon Coakley
  2. Gioia’s Deli, St. Louis
    Owner: Alex Donley
  3. La Taqueria, San Francisco
    Owner: Miguel Jara
  4. Sahadi’s, Brooklyn, NY
    Owners: Christine Sahadi Whelan, and Ron Sahadi
  5. Schultz’s Crab House, Essex, MD
    Owners: Chrissy Burkman, Stephanie Kell, Jason McKinney, Michelle McKinney, Robert A. McKinney Jr., and Stephen McKinney

2017 James Beard Foundation Humanitarian of the Year
Denise Cerreta,One World Everybody Eats, Salt Lake City

2017 James Beard Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award
Nora Pouillon, Restaurant Nora, Washington, D.C.


To learn more about the 2017 James Beard Award Winners, visit their website.

  • Easy Ice
  • Summer Fancy Food Show 2025
  • Barilla Professional Pasta
  • The NAMA Show
  • RATIONAL USA
  • Day & Nite
  • SFA Winter Fancy Faire 2026
  • Red Gold BBQ
  • BelGioioso Burrata
  • Imperial Dade
  • Inline Plastics
  • Modern Line Furniture
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