Central Florida's food scene received national recognition with six nominations for the esteemed James Beard Awards, the restaurant industry's equivalent of the Oscars. Yesterday's announcement of the 2025 semifinalists has set gastronomic gossip alight, and the excitement among the nominated is palpable.
Leading the pack is the formidable husband-and-wife duo Jason and Sue Chin, nominated for Outstanding Restaurateur; they operate several standout Orlando eateries, such as The Osprey, Reyes Mezcaleria, The Monroe, and the venerable Seito Sushi, as reported by Orlando Weekly. Meanwhile, the city is also rooting for two of its culinary mavens, Lordfer Lalicon and Sonny Nguyen, each tapped for Best Chef: South and representing a diverse range of dining experiences from the authentic Asian fare at Domu and Gyukatsu Rose to the inventive offerings at Kaya.
Not to be overlooked is pastry extraordinaire Yohann Le Bescond, who had previously dazzled on a national scale in the Food Network's "Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking" and who has now earned a nod for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker—with his chops evident in Ocala's World Equestrian Center's kitchens, ClickOrlando points this out. Winter Park's Ômo by Jônt is adding to the dining drama, rounding out Central Florida's nominees in the fierce Best New Restaurant category.
The process for these culinary contenders is intense. Judges from the James Beard Awards will dine discreetly, scoring semifinalists to narrow them down to finalists, announced on April 2. They’ll then visit the finalists’ restaurants before naming the winners on June 16 in Chicago.
