Great news from the James Beard Foundation this year with Kabooki Chef Henry Moso named as a finalist this year for Best Chef of the South. Many of our Orlando chefs and restauranteurs have been named as semi-finalists before and this is a first in a long time for one of our own to advance to the finals.

This week, Good Salt Restaurant Group led by Sue and Jason Chin (past James Beard Award nominees for Best Restauranteurs) is proud to welcome the James Beard Foundation back to Orlando at The Monroe on April 19th. Good Salt Restaurant Group is renowned for delicious concepts, thoughtful and inclusive leadership, as well as great culinary talent.

Their talented chefs from all four Good Salt restaurants (The Monroe, The Osprey, Reyes Mezcaleria, and Seito Baldwin Park) feature dishes inspired by the concepts that they helm as well as from their respective cultural backgrounds in a lively reception style setting.

Also included are cocktails, spirits, wine and local beer tastings, desserts from pastry chefs and live music in support of #goodfoodforgood.

Friends of James Beard Benefits provide critical funding for programs, to help JBF achieve its mission to celebrate, support, and elevate the people behind America’s food culture, and champion a standard of Good Food for Good anchored in talent, equity, and sustainability.

Evening Hosts/Owners
Sue and Jason Chin
Good Salt Restaurant Group, Orlando, FL

Featured Participants

Executive Chef Nikk Burton
Pastry Chef Robbie Lamison
The Monroe, Orlando, FL

Executive Chef Michael Cooper
The Osprey, Orlando, FL

Chef/Partner Wendy Lopez
Pastry Chef Denise Newberry
Reyes Mezcaleria, Orlando, FL

Chef/Partner Huy Q. Tin
Seito Sushi, Orlando, FL

Beverage Director Lorena Castro
Good Salt Restaurant Group, Orlando

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Tickets: https://www.jamesbeard.org/events/fojbb-orlando#

Izabela Wojcik, Director, Friends of James Beard Benefits, will be traveling to Orlando to represent JBF at the event. We spoke with her via e-mail about the upcoming event – read on!

Tasty Chomps Interview with Izabela Wojcik, Friends of James Beard Benefits

Ricky Ly, TastyChomps: What are some big plans for the James Beard Foundation this year

Izabela Wojcik: The James Beard Foundation’s mission as a national organization is to celebrate, support, and elevate the people behind America’s food culture and champion a standard of good food anchored in talent, equity, and sustainability. In that capacity, we look to engage with culinary partners across the US to highlight great talent, engage with those businesses in joining and supporting our mission, and inspiring and educating consumers to celebrate and support their local food scene as well support our mission.

James Beard Foundation has just launched (on April 1st) an exciting new, mission-driven event space and hub for all activities in NYC, Platform by JBF and Good to Go kiosk at Pier 57.

As we say, it’s the ultimate culinary experience where culture, pleasure and purpose meet.

James Beard has also just launched our partnership with the US State Department on Culinary Diplomacy and are gettting ready to host the next cohort of chefs in mid-may at our next Chef Boot Camp for Policy and Change in Albuquerque, a decade-long program that has provided tools and resources for over 400 chef advocates.

And that is just for starters!

Why is this event important to the Orlando community?

Our hope is that Friends of James Beard events in general, and this one in particular with Good Salt Restaurant Group, put a spotlight on amazing culinary talent, which makes everyone from the culinary side, to front of house to management feel validated and recognized. Diners recognize the James Beard Foundation affiliation is an honor and feel a sense of excitement. And our goal is to provide meaningful engagement with James Beard Foundation, looking to build a relationship and highlight Orlando as a dining destination.

What makes the Good Salt Restaurant group a special highlight for the Foundation this year?

JBF has enjoyed a long relationship with Good Salt Restaurant Group through the years, with showcase events at both the Beard House in NYC as well as in Orlando, and have always been stellar stewards of culinary talent, and warm hospitality. We are especially delighted to be coming back to Orlando, engaging with all their chefs, and getting a taste of all their concepts while reflecting the chefs’ individual heritage and style. That is truly in keeping with our mission to highlight the people that are shaping our food culture.

Tickets: https://www.jamesbeard.org/events/fojbb-orlando#