Photo by Bailey Garrot
Chefs Parnass Savang and Rod Lassiter, the co-owners of Talat Market in Summerhill, were recently named Best Chef: Southeast finalists by James Beard Foundation. The awards, known as the Oscars of the culinary world, will be announced on June 10 in Chicago. Though there were five semifinalists from the Peach State (Arnaldo Castillo of Tio Lucho’s, Erika Council of Bomb Biscuit, Duane Nutter of Southern National, and Pete Amadhanirundr of Puma Yu’s in Athens), Savang and Lassiter will now represent Georgia on their own. They’re up against Paul Smith of 1010 Bridge in Charleston, West Virginia; Robbie Robinson of City Limits Barbeque in West Columbia, South Carolina; Jamie Davis of the Hackney in Washington, North Carolina; and James London of Chubby Fish in Charleston, South Carolina.
Savang and Lassiter have big shoes to fill. Last year, the Deer and the Dove chef Terry Koval—who Lassiter once worked for—was named Best Chef: Southeast. But the duo are no stranger to recognition. Atlanta’s inaugural Michelin Guide named Talat Market a “recommended restaurant,” Atlanta included it in our Best New Restaurants in 2021, Bon Appetit listed the innovative Thai spot as one of its top 50 new restaurants in 2018. And Savang, who got his start at his parents’ Lawrenceville restaurant, Danthai, was a James Beard Rising Star Chef semifinalist in 2018. Atlanta named both him and Lassiter Best New Chefs in 2020. Can we say “called it”?
Savang and Lassiter met in the Kimball House kitchen, where they earned their chops, and later, dreamed of a Thai restaurant utilizing local Georgia produce. What began as a weekend pop-up at Gato Bizco (now Gigi’s) has transformed into a point of pride for Atlantans, who can say they, too, secured a table at Talat. As we prepare to root for this homegrown team, we chatted with the chefs about making it to the culinary finals.
Congratulations! What…
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