How to Watch the James Beard Awards Tonight
Tonight, the chef Lordfer Lalicon, partner Jamilyn Salonga Bailey, and the team at Kaya are eagerly awaiting the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony at Chicago’s Lyric Opera House. Kaya has been announced as a finalist for the Best New Restaurant award, and their Orlando delegation of over 40 people, including family, team members, and friends, is there to support them.
Win or lose, the Filipino spirit of bayanihan will be on display, showcasing the community mission that Kaya has been dedicated to since before their opening on Thornton Avenue. Kaya was honored as the Restaurant of the Year in the 2024 Orlando Sentinel Foodie Awards, rooted in the concept of kapwa – connection.
Orlando has seen several semifinalists in the James Beard Foundation Awards over the years, including notable names like James and Julie Petrakis, Scott Hunnell, Evette Rahman, Jason and Sue Chin, Jimmy and Johnny Tung, and Henry Moso. Norman Van Aken was a past winner in the Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America category.
Kaya is one of 10 nominees, and the sole representative from Florida, in the Best New Restaurant category. They will be competing against restaurants from New Orleans, Nashville, Northern California, and Texas. The James Beard Awards, often referred to as the culinary world’s Oscars, will reveal the winners soon.
To watch the live stream of the 2024 James Beard Awards at 6:30 p.m. EST, visit the Eater website or the James Beard Foundation’s YouTube channel. Best of luck to Kaya and the team!
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