Apr 2, 2025 - News

2 Arizona chefs named 2025 James Beard Award finalists

Jessica Boehm

A platter of Thai food. — Lom Wong chef Yotaka "Sunny" Martin is a James Beard Award finalist. Photo: Jeremy Duda/Axios

And then there were two: Lom Wong chef Yotaka "Sunny" Martin and Valentine pastry chef Crystal Kass are the sole Arizonans to make it to the finalist round of the 2025 James Beard Awards.

Why it matters: The Beards are among the highest honors in culinary arts and winning can catapult a chef's career or restaurant's reputation to new heights.

The latest: The James Beard Foundation announced the finalists on Wednesday.

Martin is competing in the Best Chef Southwest category and Kass is among the Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker finalists.

Flashback: Kass was a finalist last year and Martin was a semifinalist in 2023.

Zoom in: Lom Wong opened in Roosevelt Row in 2022 and touts dishes from northern Thailand (inspired by Martin's mother and grandmother), central Thailand and the Moklen tribe, a fishing community in the southern part of the country, according to Esquire.

Kass joined Valentine in 2021 after working as a pastry chef at local spots including Camelback Inn and Phoenix Public Market Cafe, the Arizona Republic reported.

Flashback: 15 Arizona chefs and restaurants were named semifinalists for James Beard Awards in January.

What's next: Winners will be celebrated at a Chicago ceremony on June 16.

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2 Arizona chefs named 2025 James Beard Award finalists

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