Congrats to the 2023 class of James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards winners, who were announced on Monday, June 5th during a live ceremony at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Co-hosted by Eric Adjepong, chef, author and host of Alex vs America; Esther Choi, chef and owner of mŏkbar and ms.yoo; Gail Simmons, author, producer and Top Chef judge; and Andrew Zimmern, James Beard Award winner, TV personality, chef, writer and social justice advocate, the event highlighted cookers across the country whose “incredible achievements and dedication to culinary excellence have left an indelible mark on our industry,” said Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation.

You can peruse the list of winners from coast to coast online here and start making reservations for your next road trip, whether you’re heading to Portland, OR (hit up Kann, which was just named Best New Restaurant), Philadelphia, PA (get a table at Friday Saturday Sunday, this year’s Outstanding Restaurant, or Houston, TX (don’t miss your chance to try Benchawan Jabthong Painter’s cooking at Street to Kitchen).

There may not have been a ton of love for Boston-based spots in this year’s Best Chef Northeast category but don’t let that stop you from working your way through the list. Winner Sherry Pocknett, the first Indigenous female chef to take the title, owns Sly Fox Den Too, right in Charlestown, RI. Nominees in the category also included Valentine Howell of Krasi and Yisha Siu of Yunnan Kitchen, both in Boston as well as Christian Hunter at Community Table in New Preston, CT, and Renee Touponce of The Port of Call in Mystic, CT. And, of course, chef Rachel Miller of Nightshade Noodle Bar, who was among the nominees for Outstanding Chef, is up in Lynn so start planning some excursions – great food awaits.