New England Get Limited Success At The James Beard Awards

Diane LaVoie

June 18, 2025

New England has recorded some limited success producing only two winners at the food Oscars – James Beard Awards.

The top awards celebrated the country’s top chefs, bartenders, and restaurants on Monday night in Chicago.

New England’s only major win was Chef Sky Haneul Kim of Gift Horse in Providence, who secured the Best Chef Northeast award.

Sullivan’s Castle Island in South Boston earned an America’s Classic Award, recognizing its long-standing charm and community impact.

Several New England chefs and establishments, including Cassie Piuma of Sarma and the bar program at Merai in Brookline, were also acknowledged as semi-finalists and finalists.

This year’s results highlight New England’s strengths in regional culinary excellence but show the area facing tough competition on the national stage.

The James Beard Awards honor culinary excellence across the United States.

About the author
Diane LaVoie
With over two decades of business journalism experience, Diane LaVoie has been leading our business coverage since 2017. A Nashua native and UNH graduate, Diane spent ten years at the Boston Globe covering regional economics before returning to her home state to raise her family. Her specialty is connecting national economic trends to local impacts, making complex financial news accessible to everyday readers. Diane has developed a respected column, "Granite State Business," featuring profiles of local entrepreneurs and analyzing economic development in New Hampshire's diverse communities from the North Country to the Massachusetts border. She serves on the board of the New Hampshire Small Business Development Center and frequently speaks at community events about the state's economic outlook. Outside of work, Diane is an avid gardener, cookbook collector, and youth soccer coach. She lives in Bedford with her husband and twin daughters.