Jun 10, 2024 - Food and Drink

Columbus chefs snubbed by James Beard awards, again

Alissa Widman Neese

Illustration of a chef's toque deflating into a sad balloon. — Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios

This is where we'd put a story about our local James Beard Award finalist … if we had one.

State of play: As our Axios Chicago colleagues prepare to cover the Oscars of the culinary world today on Instagram Live, we're once again sitting on the sidelines. What gives?

Not-so-fun fact: No Columbus chef has ever won a James Beard Award throughout the contest's 33-year history.

We've had nominees, including two 2024 semifinalists for Best Chef in the Great Lakes Region — Avishar Barua, owner of Agni and Joya's, and BJ Lieberman, owner of Chapman's Eat Market and Ginger Rabbit Jazz Lounge.
Barua has beaten Bobby Flay and held his own on "Top Chef." Lieberman has captured the New York Times' attention.

The intrigue: Local influencer Alexis Nikole Nelson, known as "The Black Forager," won an award in 2022 for her food-focused social media content.

Yes, but: What will it take for a chef to bring home the crown to Flavortown?

Have you heard about the food scene in Clawson, Michigan? We haven't either, but that city of 11,000 has a Best Chef finalist this year.

🤷 The only explanation: They must be unfairly punishing us all because some of you think pizza should be cracker-thin.

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Columbus chefs snubbed by James Beard awards, again

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