James Beard names 3 Charlotte semifinalists for 2025 awards
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Popular Charlotte restaurants Supperland, Restaurant Constance and Community Matters Cafe have all landed on this year's semifinalist list of the best chefs, restaurants and bars in the U.S., the James Beard Foundation announced Wednesday morning.
Why it matters: Last year, Charlotte got snubbed for a James Beard award again. Our city has been nominated several times and has made it to the finals a few times, but we've never won one of the coveted awards.
Driving the news: Colleen Hughes, the beverage director at Supperland, is nominated for Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service.
- Chayil Johnson, the executive chef at Community Matters Cafe, is nominated for Best Chef: Southeast.
- Sam Diminich, owner-chef of Restaurant Constance, is nominated for Best Chef: Southeast.
What they're saying: We reached out to all of the semifinalists and each said they weren't expecting a nomination.
"This is the first time there has been a category for an individual bar professional, but it has been a dream of mine to get nominated in some category ever since I was chosen to do a (Charlotte Tastemakers) dinner at James Beard House with the (Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority) way back in 2018."— Colleen Hughes
"This nomination is not a singular achievement but a reflection of the collective efforts of the exceptional team at Your Farms Your Table. It highlights the shared belief that together - with our talented chefs, dedicated farmers, and incredible industry partners - we can create something far greater than any one chef could accomplish alone - a belief perfectly embodied by the success of Restaurant Constance."— Sam Diminich
"I think [the nomination] is going to shine a light on the things that we're capable of doing in our community if we stick together, come in with a sense of hope and love and selflessness. I'm really hoping it shines a light on the work that Charlotte Rescue Mission and Community Matters Cafe puts in."— Chayil Johnson
The intrigue: All of these restaurants have unique and remarkable missions.
- Diminich and his Your Farms Your Table Restaurant Group focus on supporting local farmers and food suppliers, as well as providing meals for some of Charlotte's most vulnerable populations. He recently partnered with HopeWay mental health facility to provide daily meals to the nonprofit organization's clients, guests and staff.
- Community Matters Cafe is an extension program of Charlotte Rescue Mission, a local nonprofit that provides free recovery services to men and women struggling with addiction.
- Supperland's owners are known for paying their staff a living wage and preserving Charlotte's history by restoring old buildings. Supperland is located inside an old Plaza Midwood church. Most recently, owners Jamie Brown and Jeff Tonidandel saved the historic Leeper Wyatt building from being demolished by moving it from South End to Dilworth.
The bottom line: This year's nominees don't just serve delicious food and drinks. They're pretty great people, too.
What's next: Finalists will be announced April 2, and winners will be revealed in Chicago on June 16.
Zoom out: William Dissen, the former chef-owner of Haymaker in Uptown, was also nominated for overall outstanding chef for The Market Place in Asheville. The Market Place was a semifinalist last year for Outstanding Restaurant in America.
- Following the destruction of Hurricane Helene, The Marketplace was shut down for more than two months. "This is like COVID, but even worse for restaurants," he told Axios in October.
- In the months since the storm, Dissen has been an outspoken advocate for the western North Carolina hospitality industry, from hosting fundraisers to pushing for public aid for the local restaurant community.
Go deeper: Triangle restaurants and chefs land seven James Beard Award nominations