Finalists for the prestigious James Beard Awards were announced on Wednesday, with a beloved Summerhill restaurant being the lone Georgia eatery to make the cut.
Seven Georgia-based restaurants made the James Beard Foundation’s list of semifinalists announced in January. But it was only the Thai eatery Talat Market to make it as a finalist. The restaurant’s chefs, Rod Lassiter and Parnass Savang, received the nod for Best Chef Southeast.
They’ll face off against Jamie Davis of The Hackney located in Washington, North Carolina; James London of Chubby Fish in Charleston, South Carolina; Robbie Robinson of City Limits Barbeque in West Columbia, South Carolina; and Paul Smith of 1010 Bridge in Charleston, West Virginia.
The James Beard Awards are considered one of the most prestigious culinary industry honors in the nation. The awards are designed to “recognize exceptional talent and achievement in the culinary arts, hospitality, media and broader food system, as well as a demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community [and] sustainability,” according to the foundation’s website.
Wednesday’s news comes on the heels of Talat’s announcement that they are expanding. Lassiter and Savang say they’ll open four more locations in the next six years. Locations have not been announced yet.
Talat’s entry as a James Beard finalist is just the latest honor it’s received. The restaurant was included as one of the 45 Atlanta eateries recognized in the city’s first Michelin Guide last July.
“Talat’s journey has had ups and downs but we keep fighting to keep the dream of a Thai home alive,” wrote Talat Market co-chef Parnass Savang in a January social media post.
Award winners will be named at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on June 10 in Chicago, Illinois.
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