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An AI-generated image of a bee flying over seaweed, headed toward the horizon
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2 Eco-friendly F&B Items for Earth Day

2 Eco-friendly F&B Items for Earth Day

by David Klemt

An AI-generated image of a bee flying over seaweed, headed toward the horizon

This bee is having the time of its AI-generated life, frolicking over the sea.

It’s April 22, also known as Earth Day, and with that in mind I would like to introduce you to two products that focus on sustainability.

One is replacement for the standard cooking oils we know and love. The other is a practical stand-in for traditional honey.

The topics of sustainability, environmental friendliness, and responsible business practices are multifaceted. There’s combating food waste, upgrading to energy-efficient equipment and items that use less water… And there’s sourcing ingredients.

In the case of the two products below, both aim to be made with responsible production methods. The first seeks to use just a fraction of the resources needed to produce its traditional analogs. The other focuses on habitat restoration and protecting our planet’s all-important pollinators.

Algae Cooking Club

Seaweed isn’t just for scaring the hell out of people swimming in lakes or oceans. Instead, it’s now a viable substitute for vegetable, olive, canola, and other cooking oils.

Since it’s Earth Day (and Earth Month, of course), I want operators to be aware of this environmentally friendly alternative to traditional cooking oils.

According to the Algae Cooking Club website, “Many cooking oils are still sourced from industrial farming methods, while climate change is radically reducing crop yields. An estimated 1.4 billion acres of new farmland will be needed to feed a growing world. Algae offers an exciting alternative. Instead of waiting entire seasons to harvest, algae has the potential to produce high-quality fats, proteins, and nutrients in a matter of days with a fraction of the land, water, and carbon needed, without sacrificing flavor and quality.”

Per Elisabeth Sherman, writing for Food & Wine, Algae Cooking Club can credibly claim that production of their algae oil produces just half the carbon emissions in comparison to avocado, canola, and olive oil. Oh, it’s also packaged in a recyclable aluminum bottle.

There are several seaweed- or algae-based cooking oils available. I’m focusing on Algae Cooking Club’s oil because one of the world’s best restaurants is reportedly using it moving forward.

That restaurant is Eleven Madison Park, helmed by owner and chef, Chef Daniel Humm. Not only is the restaurant one of the best, it was named the World’s Best Restaurant by the World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2017. Chef Humm claims that Algae Cooking Club’s oil doesn’t overpower delicate flavors, nor does it taste off or burnt.

So, if it’s good enough for one of the best restaurants and one of the best chefs in the world, it’s going to have my attention.

Mellody

I don’t want to start a debate here, but it’s important to note that there’s a dispute over whether honey is vegetarian or vegan.

On the vegetarian side of the discussion, it’s not meat or fish. Also, most people would say that bees aren’t harmed during the production of honey.

However, on the vegan side, honey is an animal product. Further, it’s a product produced by exploiting an animal. Therefore, honey can’t be vegan. And, yes, that means vegans will try to avoid consuming it.

Well, what if there existed a product that looked, tasted, cooked, and overall behaved like honey that didn’t exploit any bees? There is.

From Mellody Foods comes Mellody Plant-based Honey. Currently, there are two expressions: Golden Clover, and Spicy Habanero. Both, according to Mellody, are 1:1 matches to honey produced by bees.

The company claims that Golden Clover and Spicy Habanero tastes, drips, drizzles, and sticks like traditional honey. Each flavor is vegan, gluten- and glyphosate-free, and pollinator-friendly.

Crucially, both plant-based honeys are made using sugars, acids, and botanical extracts. Of course, Spicy Habanero includes its namesake pepper as well.

You and your culinary and bar teams can learn about Mellody here.

Takeaway

Eco-friendliness and sustainability are important values to a not-insignificant portion of the world.

It follows that a percentage of consumers seek out and want to support restaurants and bars that share their values. So, if the above products make sense for your concept, give them careful consideration.

If they’re not a fit, that’s fine. However, it’s a good idea to look into what products and practices you can embrace to become a more sustainable operator.

It’s possible you’re already greener than you think. Keep going.

Disclaimer: Neither the author nor KRG Hospitality received compensation, monetary or otherwise, in exchange for this post.

Image: Shutterstock. Disclaimer: This image was generated by an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system.

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Kate Boushel, Director of Beverage and Education for the Barroco Group
by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

Kate Boushel Earns Bartenders’ Bartender

Kate Boushel Earns Bartenders’ Bartender Award

by David Klemt

Kate Boushel, Director of Beverage and Education for the Barroco Group

Cheers to bartender, educator, and mentor Kate Boushel for earning the 2024 Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award, the first Canadian bartender to win the title.

Boushel, the director of beverage and education for Barroco Group, is well deserving of this honor. It’s important to note that this award is voted on by industry peers.

In addition to selflessly educating and mentoring others, Boushel also tends bar at the incredible Atwater Cocktail Club and Milky Way Cocktail Bar, both in Montréal, Québec.

Interior image of bar inside Atwater Cocktail Club in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Atwater Cocktail Club.

She is an advocate, fighting for representation. Further, Boushel is helping to lead the industry toward truly embracing inclusion in myriad ways. Not only does she fight for everyone to be welcome, Boushel fights for workers to seek purpose in the industry, and be recognized for their talents and impact.

Hospitality is, at its core, about service, community, and inclusion. Therefore, there’s zero question Boushel deserves recognition as the Bartenders’ Bartender. I’ve never heard anything but positivity when anyone has spoken of her. One need only review the social media posts announcing Boushel’s award and accompanying comments to see how much her peers revere her.

The announcement of this award is part of the run-up to the 2024 North America’s 50 Best Bars ceremony. In its third edition, the ceremony returns to San Miguel de Allende in Guanajuato, Mexico. Learn more about this year’s event on episode 113 of the Bar Hacks podcast, featuring Emma Sleight. Those not attending in person can watch the April 23 livestream via YouTube and Facebook.

Congratulations to Kate Boushel!

KATE BOUSHEL, DIRECTOR OF BEVERAGE AND EDUCATION, ATWATER COCKTAIL CLUB, WINS THE ALTOS BARTENDERS’ BARTENDER AWARD AS PART OF NORTH AMERICA’S 50 BEST BARS 2024

An inspirational spirits educator and mentor for female leaders in the industry wins the bar world’s leading peer-voted award

April 11, 2024 – Kate Boushel, Director of Beverage and Education for the Barroco Group and bartender at Montreal’s Atwater Cocktail Club and Milky Way Cocktail Bar, has been named the recipient of the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award 2024. Boushel is one of the leading forces behind Barroco Group’s innovative bar concepts and has been recognized for her legendary teamwork behind the bar as well as her impactful mentorship, involvement in community initiatives and career consulting – particularly for other women in the beverage industry. She is the first Canadian recipient of the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award.

After leaving the restaurant and bar industry for a career in government and public relations for nearly a decade, Boushel’s passion for local flavors, spirits, and cocktails, as well as her natural inclination toward the art of hospitality, brought her back to bartending. Outside of the bars themselves, Boushel has competed on a global and national scale in industry competitions such as the Marie Brizard Masters, Diageo World Class, Bombay’s Most Imaginative Bartender, and Speed Rack.

Boushel represents the Barroco Group in bar events, pop-ups, and panels that discuss shifts in the global bar sector. She continues to bring awareness to the Canadian bartending community as an advocate for diversity, as a resource for bartenders at all levels, and as a support to fellow bartenders through a variety of programs within the industry.

An innovator and true connoisseur of bartending, Boushel is responsible for co-crafting the cocktail menus within Barroco Group, which includes the drinks programs for Atwater Cocktail Club, Barroco, Foiegwa, Milky Way, Fugazzi, and Bon Délire. Under Boushel’s creative and innovative guidance, these bars have continued to play a significant role in providing paces that support a healthier planet while promoting and prioritizing local farmers and producers and developing budding talent within the region. Boushel divides her time between advocacy and working with her teams to incorporate sustainability into everything they do, from the ways they work to the products they use. Her hard work, determination, and commitment to hospitality make her a worthy winner of the industry’s most prestigious peer-voted award.

Emma Sleight, Head of Content for North America’s 50 Best Bars, said, “Kate is an industry powerhouse who has transformed and pioneered the cocktail scene in Montreal and throughout North America. A supporter of bartenders, whether long-established or new to the trade, and an advocate for sustainability, she is a thoughtful and dedicated promoter of local producers and a mentor to all who have worked with her. In Kate’s time at Atwater Cocktail Club, she has created cocktails that take Canada’s mixology roots and blend them with her own take on classic drinks, keeping quality ingredients at the heart of everything she and her team do. She has also dedicated time outside of Barroco Group to mentor women in the industry and play an active role in a variety of community-focused initiatives. Together, we congratulate Kate on being awarded the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award.”

Atwater Cocktail Club was recognized by North America’s 50 Best Bars in 2023 as No.32 on the list. Known as one of the most charismatic cocktail bars in Montreal for its creatively curated selections, the menu features elegant drinks made with high-quality ingredients and incorporating techniques such as fermentations, emulsions and carbonation installations. Cocktails come to life with ingredients such as repurposed egg whites, acid-rectified grape juice, and celery bitters. The full menu aims to keep guests educated about their drink’s ingredients, alcohol percentages, and translations in both English and French. Outside of its cocktails, Atwater Cocktail Club has an extensive selection of wines, beers, and non-alcoholic drinks.

Kate Boushel says: “Receiving the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award is one of the greatest honors of my career. I see it as an emblem of the global hospitality community and our industry’s way of recognizing fellow professionals who go above and beyond to embody this spirit that unites bartenders across the world. It goes without saying that this milestone is a testament to the unwavering support of our partners at the Barroco Group, my network and the friendships I’ve fostered throughout my career. As I reflect on this moment I feel seen, filled with gratitude and proud for what this represents to our Montreal and Canadian bar community.”

Carlos Andrés Ramírez, Global Advocacy & PR Manager of Altos Tequila, says: “We love that this year’s North America’s 50 Best Bars Altos Bartenders’ Bartender is Kate Boushel from Atwater Cocktail Club in Canada. This is a very well-deserved award to someone from a country that every year demonstrates its relevance in the industry and has more and more bars scaling up. From Altos Tequila and Altos Tahona Society, huge applause to Kate and all the staff around her. Salud!”

The Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award is second in a series of special pre-announced awards for North America’s 50 Best Bars 2024, which will take place in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. For the second year in a row, San Miguel de Allende will host the live awards representing North America’s drinks and bar industry coming together to announce the most prestigious list of expert-voted drinking destinations across all of North America.

The countdown of the list of North America’s 50 Best Bars and the awards ceremony will also be broadcast to a global audience who are not able to attend in person, and bar and cocktail lovers will be invited to join through The World’s 50 Best Bars Facebook page and 50 Best Bars TV YouTube channel.

About North America’s 50 Best Bars

Following the success of The World’s 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, and the establishment of Asia’s 50 Best Bars in 2016, 50 Best launched North America’s 50 Best Bars, with the first edition of the awards held in New York, N.Y. on June 7, 2022. It shines a much-deserved spotlight on the region as a world-class drinks’ destination and acts as a mouthpiece for the outstanding talent coming through. The inaugural North America’s 50 Best Bars awards ceremony and unveiling of the list provided a unique opportunity to unite bartenders, bar owners, cocktail aficionados and drinks media from all over the region at a captivating celebration of drinks, hospitality, passion and talent. North America’s 50 Best Bars includes voting for bars from Canada, the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean. William Reed, which owns the 50 Best brand, is entirely responsible for the organization of the awards, the voting system and the respective lists.

How the Voting Works

The ranking for North America’s 50 Best Bars will reflect the best bar experiences based on the votes of the Academy members, who comprise anonymous North American bar industry experts (including bartenders, bar owners, drinks media and well-traveled cocktail connoisseurs) from the USA, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. In 2023, the Academy expanded to 270 members. This change was implemented to obtain a wider snapshot and ensure a greater number of diverse voices voting for the awards. Moreover, as per all 50 Best lists for restaurants, bars and hotels, 25 per cent of Academy members are refreshed annually to keep the perspectives dynamic and relevant. Members of the 50 Best organization do not vote and do not control the composition of the list; that is the collective role of the voting Academy. This means that bars cannot apply to be on the list and no sponsors have any influence on the list.

The Academy is divided into 7 regions: USA Northeast; USA Midwest; USA West; USA South; Canada East; Canada West; Mexico and the Caribbean. Each region has its own panel of members including a chairperson, called the Academy Chair. The Chairs each then select a voting panel, ensuring a balanced selection. Each North America Academy member will vote for 7 bars, with a maximum of 5 in the home country (or state in the U.S.) where they are based. Voters also have the option to vote for a further 2 (or more) bars located outside of their home country (or U.S. state) up to a maximum of 7.

Voting is carried out individually and strictly confidentially on a secure site and remains confidential before the list announcement. Academy Chairs are not privy to, and have no knowledge of, the votes cast by the voters in their respective regions. They are neither spokespeople for the 50 Best brand.

The list will be the result of a poll of 270 experts (all within the North American continent), who each cast votes for the bars where they have had their ‘best experience’ during the last 18 months before the voting deadline. The list is a simple computation of votes by North American voters for bars in North America. Further information on the Academy Chairs and how the voting works is available on the FAQs page here.

About the Award Sponsor: Altos

Altos is a super-premium Tequila, crafted from 100% blue agave in the heart of Los Altos, more than 2,000 meters above sea level, in the western state of Jalisco, in Mexico. Born from a collaboration between Altos Tequila’s Master Distiller, Jesús Hernández, and the internationally renowned UK mixologists, Dré Masso and the late Henry Besant, Altos was made by bartenders for bartenders in 2009. The Altos range celebrates the authenticity of Mexico in a modern way, as such each Tequila is crafted in part using the 500-year-old traditional Tahona method, before being distilled in small copper pot stills.

About the Host Destination Partner: San Miguel de Allende

Located just 170 miles northwest of Mexico City, San Miguel de Allende earned its UNESCO World Heritage Site designation in 2008. With more than 175,000 residents, the town shares this distinction with the most historically and culturally significant destinations in the world and is Mexico’s unofficial wedding capital. Thanks to its advanced culinary and cocktail scenes, San Miguel de Allende is already beloved by in-the-know travelers. The town is also famous for its exquisitely preserved examples of 16th-century Spanish Colonial Baroque architecture, as well as iconic structures like La Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, a stunning neo-Gothic cathedral. In the mid 20th-century, San Miguel de Allende became a haven for Mexican painters, which, in turn, attracted foreign artists and writers. They fell in love with its picturesque cobblestone streets, stately mansions, colorful artisanal crafts markets and cosmopolitan, bohemian lifestyle that continue to enchant travelers today.

About the Main Sponsor: Perrier

For more than a century, Perrier® has collaborated with some of the world’s most influential major artists, including Andy Warhol, Salvador Dalí, Bernard Villemot, and Jean-Gabriel Domergue, each of whom in their own way have demonstrated a certain artistic irreverence. With a history that began in 1863 in Vergèze, in the Gard region of France, the Perrier® brand is now recognized worldwide thanks to its iconic green bottle. Appreciated in more than 140 countries, the brand is acclaimed for its natural mineral water combined with the power of its bubbles.

Images provided by CURICH|WEISS

KRG Hospitality. Bar Consultant. Nightclub. Lounge. Mixology. Cocktails.

AI-generated image of a $20 bill with a cheeseburger covering the president's face, in street art style
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Rocky Start to Cali’s Fast-food Wage Hike

Rocky Start to California’s Fast-food Wage Hike

by David Klemt

AI-generated image of a $20 bill with a cheeseburger covering the president's face, in street art style

I instructed AI to draw a cheeseburger on a $20 bill, in street art style. Enjoy.

We’re barely two weeks into the $20-per-hour wage hike for fast-food workers in California and not everyone is happy with the results thus far.

That is, of course, if reports are accurate. However, the stories coming out of the Golden State are raising eyebrows.

On April 1, the minimum wage for fast-food workers in California jumped to $20 per hour. On the surface, AB 1228 appears to be a victory for hourly hospitality professionals employed by fast-food concepts.

Unfortunately, once we go beyond the surface, things aren’t that cut and dry.

Operators in California are implementing all manner of adaptations in response to the state’s minimum wage boost:

  • Increasing menu prices.
  • Cutting staff hours.
  • Reducing staff.
  • Decreasing operating hours.
  • Closing one or more days of the week.
  • Postponing updates and upgrades.
  • Focusing on delivery.
  • Introducing automation.
  • Putting items that require less labor on the menu.
  • Closing locations permanently.

It should go without saying but a wage increase doesn’t do much good if one’s hours are reduced significantly. Further, it does zero good if one’s employer shutters the workplace.

Per reporting, that’s precisely the situation team at one Fosters Freeze location is in currently. On April 1, workers at a Lemoore, California, location received a group text explaining that their restaurant was closing permanently. Understandably, some staff thought the text was an April Fool’s Day prank.

Certainly, the Lemoore Fosters Freeze isn’t the only restaurant closure related directly to the minimum-wage hike. Nor, it seems, will it be the last.

More Pain Points

When people hear about fast-food menu price increases, the assumption is that guests will reduce visits. Or, perhaps they’ll adjust their usual order. Alternately, some people anticipate guests will give their business to a different fast-food brand.

However, there’s another result that some fast-food operators in California are anticipating or experiencing already.

At a certain point, perception of value is affected negatively. Eventually, a consumer will perceive more value in visiting a full-service restaurant than a QSR or LSR. So, it’s likely that fast-food operators in California will lose guests to traditional “sit-down” concepts.

Should that possibility become a reality, traffic will drop. When the traffic drops, workers’ hours are reduced. Some operators, therefore, will lose staff to FSRs; people need to go where the work and money are, after all.

So, beyond the need to adapt to comply with the new minimum-wage law, fast-food operators must compete with FSRs to keep staff and guests.

What’s a Fast Food Restaurant?

Curious about how California defines “fast food restaurant” in AB 1228, I looked up the text of the bill.

The relevant parts are found under section 1474:

“(a) ‘National fast food chain’ means a set of limited-service restaurants consisting of more than 60 establishments nationally that share a common brand, or that are characterized by standardized options for decor, marketing, packaging, products, and services, and which are primarily engaged in providing food and beverages for immediate consumption on or off premises where patrons generally order or select items and pay before consuming, with limited or no table service. For purposes of the definitions in this part, ‘limited-service restaurant’ includes, but is not limited to, an establishment with the North American Industry Classification System Code 722513.”

1474 also includes the following:

“(c) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), ‘fast food restaurant’ means a limited-service restaurant in the state that is part of a national fast food chain.”

Interestingly, there’s also this exemption:

“(2) ‘Fast food restaurant’ shall not include an establishment that on September 15, 2023, operates a bakery that produces for sale on the establishment’s premises bread, as defined under Part 136 of Subchapter B of Chapter I of Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations, so long as it continues to operate such a bakery. This exemption applies only where the establishment produces for sale bread as a stand-alone menu item, and does not apply if the bread is available for sale solely as part of another menu item.”

Further, AB 610 carves out more exemptions.

Accusations of Corruption

The bakery exemption is fueling accusations of corruption.

Per reports, the exemption is quite favorable for Panera Bread. Why is that particular chain being held up as an example of special treatment and corruption?

As it turns out, should reporting prove accurate, a Panera Bread franchisee and billionaire named Greg Flynn is a Governor Gavin Newsom campaign donor. It’s claimed that Flynn has donated more than $200,000 to Gov. Newsom.

Last month, Flynn, in response to what has been dubbed “PaneraGate,” stated that the minimum wage at his franchise locations would rise to $20 per hour. This announcement was, Flynn claimed, to remain competitive, and in no way a reaction to the controversy surrounding what many perceived to be a favorable exemption for a donor, high school friend, and past business partner.

Again, California is barely two weeks in to this mandated pay rise. To say it’s early days is an understatement. There will be further consequences and adaptations for months and years to come.

So far, however, while many workers and even business owners are happy with the new law, some are already sounding alarms and pushing back.

Image: Shutterstock. Disclaimer: This image was generated by an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system.

KRG Hospitality. Restaurant Business Plan. Feasibility Study. Concept. Branding. Consultant. Start-Up.

by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

AI: Coming to a Loyalty Program Near You

AI: Coming to a Loyalty Program Near You

by David Klemt

In a logical step forward, artificial intelligence is now coming to restaurant loyalty programs to enhance personalization and encourage engagement.

Proponents say that AI is in a position to learn about program members and make recommendations. Most importantly, they claim that such technology learns to present offers that will motivate guests to make a purchase.

At the end of the day, that is the reason loyalty programs exist.

One international chain embracing AI tech to enhance their program is Wendy’s. As one would expect, they’re using AI to study an individual’s preferences, visit frequency, purchase history, and more.

Should this investment in AI prove successful, the Wendy’s loyalty program will further establish itself as one of the best in the industry. In addition to enhancing the gamification aspect of the app, offer uptake should increase.

It’s no secret that consumers want personalized offers. However, that doesn’t mean a marketing email with their first name in the greeting. A truly personalized offer is one that shows the company extending it understands the recipient.

For a surface-level example, let’s say a loyalty program user’s purchase history makes it clear they’re exclusively vegetarian or vegan. It’s incredibly likely that offering this person a deal on a double cheeseburger will fail. Over time, after receiving enough offers that don’t resonate, that user may decrease visits and even exit the loyalty program.

Toward the end of last year, Wendy’s said they expected sales driven by digital opportunities to reach nearly $2 billion. A key driver is, of course, their loyalty program.

It makes sense, therefore, for the QSR giant to invest in AI to enhance loyalty.

Punchh It

Wendy’s is partnering with PAR Tech to enhance their loyalty program via artificial intelligence.

In 2021, PAR Tech acquired a loyalty and guest engagement solutions provider called Punchh for $500 million. Now called PAR Punchh, the aim is to make it simpler for restaurants to leverage loyalty.

“With the Punchh acquisition, we are building a platform that enables restaurants to scale quickly, own their path to innovation, and take back their guest relationship. This eliminates the need for juggling disjointed vendors, developing cumbersome point-to-point integrations, and relying on 3rd party dependencies. At the same time, Punchh advances our ability to provide customers with an end-to-end solution, from guest-to-kitchen, through one unified data source,” said PAR Tech CEO and president Savneet Singh back in 2021.

Per PAR Tech, there are more than 200 enterprise-level restaurant chains using Punchh currently. It stands to reason that number will grow if partnering with the platform proves lucrative for brands like Wendy’s.

Further, as AI tech reaches ubiquity and delivers more desirable results, it should become more affordable for regional chains and independents to leverage it as well.

Operators of all sizes who offer loyalty programs should keep an eye on AI-enhanced programs and the opportunities they present.

Image: Alexander Sinn on Unsplash

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A street-art-style image of a jar of chili crisp versus a jar of chili crunch
by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

What’s Going on with Chili Crisp?

What’s Going on with Chili Crisp?

by David Klemt

A street-art-style image of a jar of chili crisp versus a jar of chili crunch

I’m not convinced that AI platforms know much about chili crisp or human hands.

UPDATE (April 15, 2024): David Chang has reportedly stated that Momofuku will no longer enforce the “Chile Crunch” trademark. He made the statement on his The Dave Chang Show podcast.

A legal battle over a chili crisp trademark is spilling into the public arena, and people are taking sides and making their feelings known on social media.

More specifically, Momofuku appears to be defending its “Chile Crunch” and “Chili Crunch” trademarks vigorously. To say some people aren’t exactly fans of this legal news is an understatement.

To provide context for the unfamiliar, Momofuku is a restaurant group first established in 2004 by David Chang. By 2019, the group had expanded, opening 20 venues. In 2020, Momofuku Goods began selling some of its culinary products in the retail space.

Among the products carrying the Momofuku name and peach logo is Chili Crunch. This is the brand’s version of chili crisp, a condiment consisting of oil, fried chili pepper, and other elements, such as garlic and onion (and other peppers).

From what I can find, it’s widely accepted that chili crisp originated in China, and has been around for centuries. How many centuries? I have no idea.

However, I can say with certainty that Momofuku has owned the “chile crunch” trademark since 2023. And I know that Momofuku acquired the rights to that trademark from Chile Colonial, LLC. That acquisition was part of a settlement.

Interestingly, Chile Colonial took action against Momofuku last year for trademark infringement for using the product name Chile Crunch. The former had been selling its Chile Crunch since 2008, and registered the trademark in 2015.

Now, it’s Momofuku, who apparently licenses the trademark to others, taking action to defend the trademark. Toward the end of last month, the company applied to trademark “chili crunch.”

Cease and Desist

As several outlets have reported, a number of chili crisp producers have received cease-and-desist letters.

Eater has reported that one producer, Homiah, received such a letter after they renamed their Crispy Sambal product to Sambal Chili Crunch.

The letter reads, in part, “Momofuku trusts that Homiah did not adopt the CHILI CRUNCH mark in bad faith or with an intent to create confusion. But because trademark law requires brand owners to police use of their trademarks—and because Momofuku is concerned that consumers may actually be confused here—we write to request Homiah’s cooperation.”

One element of the requested cooperation is that Homiah stop using the name Sambal Chili Crunch within 90 days.

It seems that it hasn’t taken long for these legal requests to find their way to the public at large. And, yes, sides have been taken.

Sifting through the comments on Eater’s Instagram post about this situation paints a vivid, albeit not entirely unexpected, picture.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Eater (@eater)

“This is a great way to ensure that I’ll never buy Chang’s version,” reads one comment.

“If no one owns RANCH, no one should own this,” says another Instagram user.

“No, this is absurd. Heinz didn’t trademark ketchup, they trademarked Heinz, this is so ridiculous. He can trademark momofuko and the peach logo. But this is so stupid,” is a comment with nearly 400 likes.

Finally, there’s this simple statement: “You can’t trademark culture.”

Los Angeles Times columnist Jenn Harris would agree with that last comment. Addressing Momofuku’s legal actions, she writes, “I reject the notion that someone could exclusively own something so ingrained in my culture, a food I consider an intrinsic part of my identity.” You can, and should, read her column here.

Must Defend

There’s more at play here when it comes to trademarks.

Speaking in incredibly general terms—and without providing any legal advice—once a trademark has been granted, the owner must defend it. Failing to do so, which includes filing variations and taking action against others, can result in the loss of the rights associated with the trademark.

So, on one finger on one hand, Momofuku must defend “chile crunch” and, if granted, “chili crunch,” if the company wants to retain their trademark rights. On another, does the blame lie with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for granting the trademark in the first place?

Going deeper, should Momofuku have negotiated different settlement terms that wouldn’t preclude others from calling their chili crisp products Chile Crunch? I’m not remotely qualified to speak on the legal dispute between Chile Colonial, LLC, and Momofuku, so I can’t even begin to form an opinion. If the settlement was “pricey,” I understand Momofuku being sensitive about other products potentially cutting into their sales.

Per reporting, Susan Hojel, the owner of Chile Colonial, has said she was “going broke” defending the Chile Crunch trademark. Many of the cease-and-desist letters were going to large companies. In that sense, Hojel saw herself in the role of David, going after corporate Goliaths.

Now, however, the public views David Chang and Momofuku as Goliath, attempting to crush noble Davids. Therefore, I have to wonder if the real issue is public perception, not legality. After all, I’ve seen the label “trademark bully” affixed not to just Momofuku but Chang as well.

Worth It?

I don’t know what the answer is for the questions swirling around this legal fight. All I can do is wonder if defending this trademark is worth the backlash.

At the moment, we’re seeing comments expressing disappointment and disdain. What happens if those comments manifest in damaged brand perception?

Put another way, there’s defending your brand…and there’s defending your brand.

Image: Shutterstock. Disclaimer: This image was generated by an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system.

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XO Night: A New Nightlife Tradition?

Rémy Martin XO Night: A New Nightlife Tradition

by David Klemt

A brand-new release from Rémy Martin seeks to not only solidify itself as a new way to start a night out but also prove Cognac isn’t an old-fashioned drink.

XO Night, the newest member of the Rémy Martin family, is dressed for a night out at the club. Just take a look at the decanter: black, mirrored, and adorned with holographic enhancements.

This is a bottle of Cognac meant to grab attention. There’s no denying that XO Night will stand out on a nightclub back bar. And as far as bottle service…it’s perfect for an over-the-top Las Vegas nightclub-style delivery.

In other words, this isn’t your great-grandfather’s Cognac.

Obviously, the House of Rémy Martin is aiming to alter the perception of Cognac with XO Night. Aesthetically, the bottle is clearly a departure from tradition. Further, by targeting nightlife specifically, Rémy Martin is signaling their interest in courting younger, legal-drinking-age consumers.

Cheekily, Rémy Martin seems willing to set aside tradition to appeal to the nightclub crowd. In fact, the storied Cognac house is taking a shot at changing the way people view Cognac and nightcaps. Rather than a sip intended to signal the end of the evening, Rémy Martin hopes people will choose to begin their night out with XO Night.

In terms of tasting notes, XO Night is XO, but dressed to show out at the club. Expect fruity and floral notes on the nose, and candied orange, spices, ripe plum, and roasted cocoa beans on the palate. The finish is classic XO: smooth, full-bodied, and long.

Personally, I think it’s great to see a Cognac house with nearly three centuries of history thinking about their portfolio differently. Keep an eye out for XO Night activations throughout 2024.

RÉMY MARTIN UNVEILS XO NIGHT, A NEW MEMBER OF THE XO FAMILY

Rémy Martin Reinvents Night-time Celebrations with XO Night Uncapped

NEW YORK, April 9, 2024—The House of Rémy Martin, announces the launch of XO Night, a new addition to the Rémy Martin portfolio that lives at the epicenter of night-time celebrations. Radiant, luxurious, and full of life, XO Night is the ultimate cognac of choice for those seeking a new opulent attitude to nightlife.

With Rémy Martin XO Night, the notion of a night uncapped takes on a whole new meaning. Unlike the traditional nightcap which signals the end of the evening, a night uncapped with XO Night signifies the night is just beginning. It’s an invitation to embrace the vibrant energy of the night, to savor every moment, and to revel in the possibilities that lie ahead. Whether enjoying XO Night at a high-end club, a lively rooftop bar, or a chic lounge, each sip of XO Night ignites the senses and sets the stage for unforgettable experiences.

“At Rémy Martin, we’re thrilled to unveil our latest venture into the dynamic world of nightlife. With XO Night, we aim to redefine the traditional nightcap and show how a night uncapped with Rémy Martin has endless possibilities,” says Nicolas Beckers, Chief Executive Officer, Rémy Cointreau Americas. “Through innovative rituals and immersive experiences, we’re engaging our consumers in unforgettable ways, inviting them to unlock new ways to enjoy the night.”

THE LOOK

Rémy Martin XO Night dials up the party in a mirrored black decanter. Its signature solarised shape radiates light from every angle. Holographic flashes and UV details ignite it further, with a minimalistic design that pumps up the XO stamp and catches the Rémy Martin Centaur in action.

THE EXPERIENCE

Rémy Martin will bring XO Night to life with activations throughout the year in key markets across the United States, including New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Atlanta, and Miami. These cities are renowned for their dynamic nightlife scenes, making them the perfect backdrop to unveil XO Night and introduce consumers to a night uncapped.

THE RÉMY MARTIN XO FAMILY

New Rémy Martin XO Night joins Rémy Martin XO classic as a choreographer of celebration. Rémy Martin XO Cognac Fine Champagne is now dressed in two styles, giving you different ways to illuminate every occasion, day or night.

  • Rémy Martin XO Night. The new icon of night-time celebrations. Opulent, edgy and vibrant, XO Night is the go-to cognac for high end clubbing, friends and fun. This is XO dressed for the party.
  • Rémy Martin XO. Rémy Martin XO was launched in 1981 by our Cellar Master André Giraud. It was the first XO composed of eaux-de-vie coming exclusively from Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne, thus the first Cognac Fine Champagne XO.

THE CRAFT

Rémy Martin XO Night captures the creativity of generations. This Cognac Fine Champagne* is a testimony to the magic of assemblage. A rich and unique fusion of eaux-de-vie, the cognac reflects the Maison’s mastery of blending from Cellar Master to Cellar Master. The eaux-de-vie originates from the two prized central crus of the Cognac region, with at least 50% coming from Grande Champagne and the remainder from Petite Champagne. These are extra old, aged for at least 10 years.

TASTING NOTES

Rémy Martin XO boasts a fiery mahogany hue with opal tones, offering a smooth, full-bodied experience. It entices with a powerful yet subtle aroma, featuring fruity notes like plums and dried figs, complemented by hints of honey and floral fragrances. The taste is an astonishing generosity of flavors, from fresh passion fruit enhanced by deeper notes of ripe autumn fruits (mature fig and candied orange) to spicy notes with a hint of nutmeg and freshly ground hazelnuts. The aromas of XO unfurl gradually throughout the tasting, finishing with gourmet notes of roasted cocoa beans, honey, and gingerbread.

For more information, please see HERE and follow along on social media at:

Instagram @RemyMartinUS | Twitter @RemyMartinUS | Facebook RemyMartinUSA

#RemyXONight #XONightUncapped

ABOUT RÉMY MARTIN XO NIGHT

Vibrant, opulent and radiant, this exceptionally abundant, aromatic cognac is expertly blended from a multitude of eaux-de-vie from Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne, aged for at least 10 years. Rémy Martin XO Night is dressed for the evening, at the center of night-time celebrations, lighting up the party, the club and the fun.

ABOUT RÉMY MARTIN

Since 1724, the House of Rémy Martin has produced premium spirits that consistently appeal to the world’s most discerning connoisseurs. A profound love of the land, a continuity of family ownership and a passionate commitment to excellence has sustained Rémy Martin for nearly three centuries. As a result of its masterful production and generations of tradition in Cognac, Rémy Martin today produces Cognacs Fine Champagne, including Rémy Martin® XO Night, Rémy Martin® XO, Rémy Martin Tercet®, Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal® Rémy Martin CLUB® and Rémy Martin® V.S.O.P. For more information visit www.RemyMartin.com

*The appellation “Cognac Fine Champagne” is an AOC (“Appellation d’Origine Controlée” / Controlled Designation of Origin) and defines a blend of eaux-de-vie sourced in Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne, with at least 50% Grande Champagne.

Disclaimer: Neither the author nor KRG Hospitality received compensation, monetary or otherwise, in exchange for this post.

Image: Rémy Martin

KRG Hospitality. Bar Consultant. Nightclub. Lounge. Mixology. Cocktails.

AI-generated image of a record album cover that reads "Cocktail House"
by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

Triple Threat: A Bar Owner Master Class

Triple Threat: A Bar Owner Master Class

by David Klemt

AI-generated image of a record album cover that reads "Cocktail House"

Three of the most respected bartender-operators formed like Voltron in Las Vegas during the 2024 Bar & Restaurant Expo to impart invaluable wisdom.

In an attempt to prevent the trio from roasting one another, I’ll organize them alphabetically, by surname: Erick Castro, Nectaly Mendoza, and Travis Tober. And yes, I’m aware they’re still going to roast each other.

This triumvirate came together to co-present “Bartender Masterclass: Building Bars that Change the Game Yet Make Money.” An aptly named education session as it was certainly a masterclass.

Importantly, this wasn’t a how-to class on tracking costs. The trio didn’t pop P&Ls up on a screen and explain how to read them. Rather, they delivered the naked truth about becoming a bar owner and chasing success.

Bluntly, the reality is that Castro, Mendoza, and Tober are noticing disturbing trends in bar ownership. People going against their instincts. Hopeful owners accepting terrible deals in a bid to live their dreams. Setting the stage for failure with excuses. No talent as the new talent. A lack of understanding of the fundamentals.

Speaking of fundamentals…

With the jokes out of the way—these three won’t hesitate to spit a bit of good-natured venom at one another—this panel got right to delivering the truth.

Almost immediately, Castro addressed a grim reality. A lot of the panel’s friends and peers own and operate bars that are busy and winning awards. And they’re not not making any money.

When he asks to see their costs, he often hears that the owner doesn’t know that information. That doesn’t work for anyone among this trio.

“You need to follow the fundamentals to make money,” explained Castro.

Adding to that, Mendoza explained the situation succinctly. A lot of the flashy markers of success some bartenders and bar owners flaunt on social media and in their real lives are bullshit.

I can tell you with certainty that Castro, Mendoza, and Tober know their numbers. It’s obvious they have the fundamentals down, and they don’t take them for granted. The same can be said for the teams they build. Nobody’s career is long for any of their businesses if they don’t learn to respect and embrace the fundamentals.

At KRG Hospitality, we also drive home that the fundamentals are keys to success. There’s a reason KRG president Doug Radkey’s first book is subtitled Developing the Fundamentals for an Epic Bar.

There’s no room for excuses.

There’s more than enough on any owner or operator’s plate; there’s no room on it for excuses.

Yet, these three are noticing that many new bar owners seem to be piling their plates high with justifications for impending failure.

“For some reason, no talent is the new talent,” said Mendoza.

Justifications for refusing to learn the business like, “I don’t know accounting,” or, “I don’t know restaurants,” are excuses that lead to two things: more excuses, and the closing of bars.

If you’ve never had the opportunity to hear Mendoza speak, I’ll tell you this: He doesn’t sugarcoat anything. He’s a fun person, he’ll make you laugh, and he wants to see people succeed. Mendoza loves hospitality. However, when it comes to business, the jokes stop.

Let’s not forget that owning and operating a bar is a business. Bars need to make money to stay open. Bar ownership isn’t a reality show, sitcom or movie—it’s stressful. Operating at a high level doesn’t remove stress completely, but it certainly mitigates much of it.

Crucially, embracing the fundamentals and rejecting the impulse to excuse mistakes large and small allows a bar owner to step away from their business eventually. Imagine being able to take actual week-long vacations—plural—as the owner of a bar, without worry. That should be among every bar owner’s goals.

So, when Mendoza says bar owners need to have the guts to learn everything about the business, that’s not hyperbole. And when Castro, who now co-owns the recently opened Gilly’s House of Cocktails, states that someone needs to be genuinely curious about the business to succeed, you can take that to the bank.

Bet on yourself.

“I bet on myself,” said Tober during this panel. He meant that in both the past and present tense, by the way.

When Tober opened the first Nickel City in 2017, it cost nearly a half-million dollars. The goal was to make $800,000 with the bar in its first year. To say that Nickel City surpassed projections is a bit of an understatement.

It did $2.4 million. The bar now generates $3 million per year on average. The latest Nickel City outpost in Houston cost $1.3 million. On average, Tober and his tight-knit group pay back investors in 18 months.

On episode 50 of our Bar Hacks podcast, Tober “jokes” that he wants a Nickel City in every major city throughout the US. If you want to listen this conversation, here’s the Spotify link, and here’s the Apple Podcasts link.

Given how quickly he and his team lead bars to success, I won’t be surprised if a fourth Nickel City location opens by the start or middle of 2026. Further, I won’t be shocked at all if it’s the first Nickel City outside of Texas.

Again, his success is the direct byproduct of his belief in himself, and an understanding of bar operations that few can match.

It’s not the drinks.

Successful bar operators, embodied by the three who hosted this panel, know that they’re not in the business of selling drinks.

“We’re all in a relationship business,” said Tober. “It’s not about the cocktails.”

This is coming from an operator whose team puts more than 20,000 Frozen Irish Coffees across their bars each year. They’re the second-highest seller of Tullamore DEW.

And you know what else? Tober will give you that recipe. In fact, he’ll tell you that all you have to do is visit the Erin Rose in New Orleans and modify their recipe.

Tober will give you that recipe—all of his recipes, if I had to guess—because you could open a bar across from one of his and having his drinks won’t make your venue a threat.

That’s betting on yourself.

Someone may be a better bartender than Tober, if one were able to put stats on the role. But Tober won’t be bothered, confident in the knowledge that they won’t tend bars better.

Setting ego aside, Tober told the room at Bar & Restaurant Expo that about once every three months, he reminds his team that he’s a C student and a college dropout. People could easily write him off as just some loud bar guy.

However, he knows the bar business in general and his bars in particular at the highest level. And he knows that he’s the guy people would like to sit down with to have a beer and a shot. As he told that room in Las Vegas, he gets by on his personality. That personality bleeds into the heart and soul of his concepts and informs the level of service and hospitality that makes everyone feel welcome.

As important, Tober also feels that bar owners are in the entertainment business. He ensures that he and his team give guests a reason to want to visit and hand over their money.

Trust your instincts.

Let’s trek back all the way to the point about some of the world’s most-awarded bars not making any money.

In some instances, it’s more accurate to say that the well-known bartender-operator isn’t getting paid. Yet another way to frame such a situation is to refer to the bartender-operator as the face of the bar.

I say they’re the face because their ownership stake is likely under 25 percent. In fact, it’s probably 20 percent or lower. The controlling stake is owned by one or more investors.

So, the bartender-operator’s vision has turned to brick-and-mortar. Their hard work turning their dream to reality is resulting in traffic, media coverage, and awards. But they’re also taking on all the stress of everyday operation while most likely struggling to pay their own bills.

They haven’t attained their dream—they’ve gotten a job. Worse, it’s an incredibly stressful job, and they’re not being compensated properly.

Driving home this point was an interaction between an audience member and Mendoza.

Would you take this deal?

This future bar owner (assumedly, and hopefully) was asking about seeking funding through investors. It was revealed that the project would likely cost around $600,000.

So, illustrating how easily a person may be tempted to leap into a bad deal to have what they think is their dream, Mendoza said he could fund that project (hypothetically). However, he would want 87-percent ownership in exchange (again, this was hypothetical). Mendoza went on to guess that the audience member and his partners would take that deal—and that they absolutely shouldn’t, because it’s a terrible offer.

Rationally, most of us would know that’s a bad deal and that we should walk away. That includes the audience member who interacted with Mendoza.

But we can all be susceptible to the “lizard brain” inside us. This is the portion of our brain that causes us to act on emotions rather than logic. There’s your dream! Your heart is pumping so hard you can hear it thumping in your ears. All you have to do is sign and it’s “yours,” at the cost of 80 percent or more of its ownership.

If a deal seems off, trust your instincts, walk away, and seek the right partners.

When you do land the right deal…

“…take the fucking shot,” says Mendoza.

In this instance, “the right deal” means a bar within your budget, cautioned Castro. Buy what you can afford.

Mendoza owns and operates award-winning concepts Herbs & Rye and Cleaver — Butchered Meats, Seafood & Classic Cocktails in Las Vegas. He shared that Cleaver is the concept he envisioned first. At the time, however, he had the budget to build Herbs & Rye.

So, he built Herbs & Rye in 2009. He trusted his instincts and, like Tober and Castro, bet on himself. In 2018, he opened the doors to Cleaver.

Could he have blown his budget and built Cleaver first? Sure. And we probably wouldn’t have either bar and restaurant now had he not been pragmatic. The industry more than likely wouldn’t have Mendoza to share his wisdom and mentor future operators.

“Your first bar is your best work. It’s like your first album—raw and uncut,” Mendoza says.

When it’s time for a second location, create something different. Get a bit uncomfortable.

“I think there’s a big disconnect about what being a bar owner is,” says Mendoza. “Success will create the fastest path the farthest away from what brought you success in the first place.”

How many sophomore albums from artists receive critiques that they’re good, just not as good as the freshman release?

When you’ve got the fundamentals down, when you understand your business at a high level, you keep that experience and wisdom. Getting uncomfortable and taking on a new challenge isn’t as risky as it was with your first bar.

So, take the fucking shot.

Seriously, trust your instincts.

There’s an episode of Castro’s award-winning Bartender at Large podcast that every bartender and hopeful bar owner should give a listen.

On episode 320, released in October of 2022, Castro gave Moe Aljaff the opportunity to tell the story of Two Schmucks. Mere days after earning the number seven spot on the 2022 World’s 50 Best Bars list, Moe and most of the team left the bar.

The situation that affected the Two Schmucks team is more common than some would like to admit, unfortunately. It inspired the cautionary phrase, “Don’t get Schmucked.”

To listen to Aljaff’s story, follow this link to the podcast episode on Spotify. After you’ve listened to that eye-opening episode, consider giving number 236 of Bartender at Large a play. It’s a conversation between Castro and Daniel Eun, a bartender and practicing attorney. This link will take you to the podcast’s website, where this episode has been embedded.

Image: Shutterstock. Disclaimer: This image was generated by an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system.

KRG Hospitality. Bar Consultant. Nightclub. Lounge. Mixology. Cocktails.

Scoops of Salt & Straw's 2024 Upcycled Food Series ice cream flavors
by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

Salt & Straw Celebrates Earth Month

Salt & Straw’s Upcycled Foods Series Returns

by David Klemt

Scoops of Salt & Straw's 2024 Upcycled Food Series ice cream flavors

To celebrate this year’s Earth Month, innovative small-batch ice cream shop concept Salt & Straw is bringing back their Upcycled Food Series.

Last Friday, three returning flavors and two new creations hit Salt & Straw locations in five US states. Currently, the artisanal ice cream shop chain operates in California, Florida, Oregon (the brand’s home state), Nevada, and Washington.

Among other important operational elements, Salt & Straw is known for innovative, chef-driven flavors. This is, in part, due to the concept’s commitment to ensuring at least 20 percent of the menu is dairy-free and vegan-friendly.

However, the brand also shines a spotlight on sustainability and combating restaurant food waste. In 2023, Salt & Straw launched their first Upcycled Food Series. A key element of the LTO menu’s execution is collaboration. Specifically, collaborating with partners that focus on upcycling ingredients.

For example, the bananas Salt & Straw uses to craft one of this year’s brand-new flavors come from Urban Gleaners. That non-profit rescued bananas from grocery stores and restaurants before they were tossed out.

After doing some digging, I found that it’s believed about 40 percent of the entire food supply in the US goes to waste per year. That’s 60 to 80 million tons of food, wasted. Supposedly, 60 percent of the food supply goes to waste in Canada.

So, I think it’s admirable that Salt & Straw leverages Earth Month to expose the alarming issue of food waste. More importantly, the brand shows that a little creativity can go a long way to fight this serious problem.

2024 Upcycled Food Series Flavors

Returning Creations

Three flavors are back for the 2024 Upcycled Food Series.

  • Day-Old Bread Pudding & Chocolate Ganache: Urban Gleaners partners with Salt & Straw on this flavor, collecting bread throughout Portland, Oregon, before it’s thrown out or otherwise goes to waste. The result is an enticing layering of custard bread pudding ice cream and chocolate ganache, as the name implies.
  • Malted Chocolate Barley Milk: In collaboration with Evergrain, a business focusing on sustainable ingredients, this vegan option is produced in part using the spent grains from the beer-brewing process. Malted Chocolate Barley milk is a “malty, fudgy, ooey-gooey vegan dream. This flavor takes us behind the curtain into beer brewing and answers the question: What happens to the spent grains after they brew beer? The brilliant food scientists at EverGrain are revolutionizing ways to extract the immense nutrients left in the grain and using it in our everyday foods, like protein-packed barley milk. We churned this barley milk with cocoa, making for a dense and creamy textured chocolate base before drizzling in a homemade fig fudge that make those rich, jammy flavors pop.”
  • Salted Caramel & Chocolate Brownies: This returning flavor is also vegan and a collaboration with an upcycled food company called Renewal Mill. As described by Salt & Straw on their website: “Behold the ultimate trifecta of salty, sweet, and bitter thanks to our friends at Renewal Mill. Their chef-crafted baking mixes are made with okara—a delicate soy flour upcycled from plant-based milk production. We fell in love with their unbelievably moist and chewy chocolate brownies, baking them in our kitchen before generously frosting them with a rich caramel. These delectable treats are folded into a sweet bed of oat milk for a vegan flavor you have to taste to believe.”

New Creations

There are two brand-new flavors on the Upcyled Food Series menu for this year’s Earth Month.

  • Chocolate Caramel Potato Chip Banana Bread: Of all the flavors, this is the one I’m most eager to try. Salt & Straw expands their partnership with Urban Gleaners for this creation, this time tasking them with saving bananas. However, a second partner helps out to make this flavor possible. Uglies provides the potato chips, which are produced using “imperfect” potatoes. To craft this one, Salt & Straw roasts “bunches and bunches of bananas in honey and spices to make a jammy banana bread ice cream you simply can’t resist. Next, we coat “Uglies” potato chips made from potatoes with slight imperfections in the most beautiful chocolate possible and drizzle in a perfect ribbon of handmade caramel.”
  • Passionfruit Yuzu Mochi Donuts & Whey Curd: To create this flavor, Salt & Straw takes frozen yogurt and enhances it with The Spare Food Co.’s upcycled whey base. I expect powerful but pleasant tanginess on the palate from this flavor based on the website description: “Bright, acidic flavors with a decidedly delicious twist. Our friends at The Spare Food Co. are concocting drinks of liquid gold by working with Greek yogurt makers around the country and turning their whey, a typically overlooked by-product of yogurt making, into a super-drink. We lean into the yogurt whey’s natural pop of acidity and the unique flavor of their sparkling tonic by making a whey-infused frozen yogurt with a passionfruit-spiked lemon curd, and then fold in homemade butter mochi donuts glazed in yuzu frosting. This flavor sings on your tastebuds and makes you think of new wheys to use traditionally wasted products.”

Images: Salt & Straw

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AI-generated image of a culinary award
by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

2024 James Beard Foundation Nominees

Cheers to the 2024 James Beard Foundation Nominees

by David Klemt

AI-generated image of a culinary award

One of these days, AI platforms are going to learn to spell, and then we’re all in trouble.

If there’s any question as to whether we’re in F&B and hospitality award season, we can safely say that the answer is an emphatic “yes.”

Our look at the 2024 Bar & Restaurant Expo award winners is here. This year’s TAG Global Spirits Awards have been revealed. And, of course, we eagerly anticipate the 2024 North America’s 50 Best Bars ceremony (along with the rest of the World’s 50 Best announcements). There are also the 2024 Spirited Awards this July.

On June 10, winners of the 2024 James Beard Awards will be revealed. Below, you’ll find the nominees spanning 22 awards categories. Additionally, you’ll find the honorees of a number of awards, including Lifetime Achievement and Humanitarian of the Year.

Interestingly, the specific chefs awards are split into a dozen categories, by region: California, Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Mountain, New York State, Northeast, Northwest and Pacific, Southeast, South, Southwest, and Texas.

This is how I learned that I in fact grew up in the Great Lakes area and not, apparently, the Midwest as I’ve believed for decades. Reality, shattered.

As far as the Outstanding Bar award goes, these are the nominees:

  • Barr Hill Cocktail Bar, Montpelier, VT
  • Clavel Mezcaleria, Baltimore, MD
  • Jewel of the South, New Orleans, LA
  • Las Ramblas, Brownsville, TX
  • Pacific Cocktail Haven, San Francisco, CA

The nominees for Best New Restaurant are:

  • Bar Bacetto, Waitsburg, WA
  • Barbs-B-Q, Lockhart, TX
  • Chez Noir, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
  • Comfort Kitchen, Dorchester, MA
  • Dakar NOLA, New Orleans, LA
  • Hayward, McMinnville, OR
  • Kaya, Orlando, FL
  • Kisser, Nashville, TN
  • Oro by Nixta, Minneapolis, MN
  • Shan, Bozeman, MT

Cheers to this year’s honorees and nominees!

JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION® ANNOUNCES THE 2024 RESTAURANT AND CHEF AWARDS NOMINEES AND LEADERSHIP AWARDS, HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR, AND LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD HONOREES

NEW YORK (APRIL 3, 2024) – The James Beard Foundation® announced today its 2024 Lifetime Achievement, Humanitarian of the Year, and Leadership Awards honorees, and Restaurant and Chef Awards nominees in advance of the James Beard Awards® ceremonies presented by Capital One. The full list of honorees and nominees can be found below and on the James Beard Foundation website.

The honorees and nominees were announced today during a live ceremony at Waldorf Astoria Washington DC, co-hosted by Clare Reichenbach, Chief Executive Officer, James Beard Foundation; Rich Gamble, Interim President & CEO, Choose Chicago; Kris Moon, President and Chief Operating Officer, James Beard Foundation; Dawn Padmore, Vice President of Awards, James Beard Foundation; Nina Albert, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED); Adam Crocini, SVP and Global Head of Food & Beverage Brands, Hilton; and Monica Weaver, Head of Branded Card Partnerships and Experiences, Capital One. At the ceremony, Reichenbach made opening remarks highlighting how the Foundation is excited to celebrate outstanding achievement, while continuing to build on its mission of “Good Food for Good®” in support of the independent restaurant industry and broader food culture.

“Congratulations to all of our esteemed honorees and nominees on this remarkable achievement,” said Clare Reichenbach, CEO, James Beard Foundation. “Your vision, and continued dedication to excellence—both on and beyond the plate—make you true leaders of American culinary. Thank you for all you are doing to set a better standard for our industry and broader food system.”

“Despite so many ongoing challenges, this list is a positive reminder of the exceptional talent and dynamism of our industry—it gives me hope for the future of independent restaurants,” said Tanya
Holland, Chair of the James Beard Awards Committee and member of the James Beard Foundation Board of Trustees. “As Awards Committee Chair, I am honored to congratulate each of you
and look forward to celebrating together in Chicago this June.”

“It’s been wonderful to hear how Awards recognition has already benefited restaurants and businesses around the country. We look forward to continuing to use the Awards platform to highlight their impressive accomplishments and work in our industry.” said Dawn Padmore, VP of Awards, James Beard Foundation. “Thank you to our committee members and judges for their work, and congratulations to all honorees and nominees.”

The James Beard Awards, among the nation’s most prestigious honors in the culinary and food media industries, recognize exceptional talent as well as a demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive. James Beard Awards policies and procedures can be viewed at jamesbeard.org/awards/policies.

Achievement Awards

The James Beard Awards comprise three Achievement Awards: Leadership Awards, which awards five candidates and has a dedicated subcommittee and voting body, as well as the Lifetime Achievement and Humanitarian of the Year Awards, both of which are administered by the Awards Committee.

Leadership Awards

The Leadership Awards program recognizes achievement by individuals and/or organizations who are actively working to set standards that create more equitable, just, sustainable, and economically viable food systems for producers, workers, and consumers alike.

The 2024 Leadership Awards categories were created by the James Beard Foundation, with input from the Leadership Subcommittee, as a reflection of the Foundation’s policy agenda and its impact priorities for 2023-2024.

The Leadership Awards honorees will be celebrated at an invite-only ceremony in Chicago on Sunday, June 9 and recognized on stage at the Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on Monday, June 10 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

“In recognizing the myriad challenges of the independent restaurant industry and our broader food landscape, the James Beard Leadership Awards honorees stand as a beacon and inspiration for all of us who are committed to a more equitable and sustainable future,” said Lakisha May, Chair of the Leadership Awards Subcommittee. “We are proud to recognize the diligent efforts and dedication of this year’s honorees.”

The 2024 Leadership Awards honorees are:

Sustainability

Leaders who are advancing environmental sustainability in support of a better supply chain for restaurants. Their efforts may focus on healthy soil, clean oceans, sustainable fisheries, reducing food
waste, or regenerative agriculture.

  • Mai Nguyen, Farmer, Farmer Mai: Mai Nguyen is a first-generation Vietnamese-American farmer who began their career as a research assistant studying the effects of carbon on the atmosphere and soil. Wanting to make more of an impact, they focused their efforts on disaster relief and water sanitation projects for refugee camps in Southeast Asia, which opened their eyes to the broader implications of food security and sustainability. The child of Vietnamese refugees, Nguyen returned to their roots in California to support the diaspora community and advocate for equitable ecological food systems through environmentally beneficial farming practices. Nguyen specializes in site-appropriate and soil-enriching approaches to growing organic heirloom grains and Southeast Asian crops in Upper Lake, California. Through their leadership as co-director of Minnow, which works to secure land tenure for California’s farmers of color and Indigenous communities, Nguyen helps facilitate democratic organization for land justice. In 2017, in response to systemic discrimination faced by farmers of color, Nguyen helped pass the Farmer Equity Act in California, which acknowledges socially disadvantaged producers within the agricultural system and has created policies to advance equity.

Policy Advocacy

Policymakers or advocates who are advancing a Farm Bill and/or federal legislation or regulations that prioritize climate change mitigation, racial and gender equity, or industry practices that foster a more sustainable and equitable restaurant industry.

  • Niaz Dorry, Coordinating Director, North American Marine Alliance (NAMA): Niaz Dorry has played a pivotal role in steering federal legislation towards recognizing and supporting small-scale, traditional, and Indigenous fishing communities through her leadership in the North American Marine Alliance (NAMA) and collaboration with the National Family Farm Coalition. By advocating for policies that prioritize ecological sustainability and equity, she has helped to bridge the gap between land and sea food systems, emphasizing the importance of including seafood in comprehensive food system discussions. Her efforts to raise awareness about the critical role of small-scale, values-based fisheries in mitigating climate change and advancing gender and racial equity have inspired more sustainable practices within the restaurant industry. Dorry has been recognized as a “Hero for the Planet” by Time magazine.

Industry Culture and Practices

Leaders who have made a significant impact and are acknowledged and recognized as setting industry standards, with a commitment to transforming the industry into one that is sustainable and equitable. These leaders have put in place systems and policies that prioritize the physical and mental health of employees and themselves and have proven to make for a sound financial model for staff and owners alike that foster longevity in the restaurant industry. They are modeling how to make independent restaurants more equitable both within and beyond one’s own businesses.

  • Muhammad Abdul-Hadi, Founder/Owner, Down North Pizza and Down North Foundation: Muhammad Abdul-Hadi is the founder of Down North Pizza, a mission-driven restaurant that
    exclusively hires previously incarcerated employees. As an entrepreneur in property management, retail, and real estate development, Abdul-Hadi focuses on creating business models that offer both employment and housing to formerly incarcerated individuals. In 2015, Abdul-Hadi bought property in the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood—a predominantly Black and historically underserved area of Philadelphia marked by high recidivism rates. Abdul-Hadi’s aim was to use the property to offer subsidized housing to individuals negatively impacted by the criminal justice system but has expanded the building’s use with the opening of Down North Pizza. Abdul-Hadi’s philosophy of meeting people where they are—recognizing and valuing their
    experiences and skills often overlooked in traditional hiring practices—has not only contributed to the success of Down North Pizza but has also set a precedent for future enterprises that seek to combine profit with purpose.

Food Security and Access

Leaders who have advanced nutrition security, an issue that has directly impacted many independent chefs and restaurants, most notably through SNAP and SNAP expansion, community engagement, and beyond.

  • Helga Garcia-Garza, Executive Director, Agri-Cultura Network: Helga Garcia-Garza is the executive director of Agri-Cultura Network—a farmer-owned cooperative providing access to local and sustainably grown produce—and of their community supported agricultural program, La Cosecha CSA. For over 50 years, Garcia-Garza has been a driving force for food justice and a dedicated community organizer, working on both sides of the U.S./Mexico border. The daughter of an activist and a member of a marginalized Native Indigenous community, Garcia-Garza’s efforts are driven by her deep commitment to building an equitable and sustainable food system, empowering communities through education, and making healthy food accessible to low-income households. After spending 20 years as an organic farmer, Garcia-Garza now advocates for farmers’ rights on environmental contamination issues. Her work has enabled hundreds of families to access fresh, local produce using SNAP funds. Beyond SNAP expansion, her efforts in community engagement and education around sustainable agriculture practices have empowered both urban and rural farmers, contributing to a more resilient and nutrition-secure food system. Garcia-Garza is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico and is currently focused on building a multi-million dollar solar-powered “Eco-Wellness” clinic that aims to bridge the gap between sustainable agricultural practices and nutritional wellbeing.

Emerging Leadership

The Leadership Committee may select an additional honoree to highlight a person or collective who is at the beginning of their career but already doing significant work.

  • Christa Barfield, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, FarmerJawn: Christa Barfield is the founder and chief executive officer of FarmerJawn—a 128-acre working farm providing access to regenerative organic food production through a community supported agriculture (CSA) program, storefronts, and educational programs—and Viva Leaf Tea Co., a farm-to-cup tea brand. Barfield’s initiatives are designed not just to provide organic foods in areas of food apartheid, but also to educate on the importance of sustainable agriculture and healthy eating through on-farm and in-school programming. Her latest venture, CornerJawn, is a redefined corner store experience that makes fresh produce more accessible to underserved communities. With CornerJawn, Barfield is nurturing a movement towards sustainable living and conscious eating for all. Barfield’s work is making a significant impact on Philadelphia’s food system and offering a model for urban food justice and entrepreneurship. Barfield is a Generation Change fellow, Philadelphia’s Community Wellness Leader, and is recognized as a “Food is Medicine” and nutrition security champion by the USDA.

Leadership Awards categories may vary annually. More information on the voting process for the Leadership Awards can be viewed here.

Lifetime Achievement Award

The Lifetime Achievement Award honors an individual whose life’s work has profoundly and enduringly influenced how America cooks, eats, and perceives food.

The 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award honoree is the inimitable writer, editor, novelist, and television personality Ruth Reichl. In 1971, at the age of 23, Reichl wrote her first cookbook, MMMMM: A Feastiary. This set her on a path to prominence as a “make or break” food critic for esteemed publications like the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times. In 1999, she took over as editor-in-chief of Gourmet magazine, commissioning pieces from legendary writers like David Foster Wallace. Reichl’s captivating memoirs offer an intimate glimpse into five decades of her culinary adventures. Her first memoir, Tender at the Bone, helped readers to understand “that food could be a way of making sense of the world.” Reichl’s appearances as a judge on Bravo TV’s Top Chef and Top Chef Masters endeared her to a new generation of food enthusiasts, reinforcing her reputation as a culinary and food media icon. Reichl’s impact on the food industry has been recognized with seven James Beard Awards and the Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America award, cementing her legacy in the food world as a leading voice and trailblazer for women.

“I’m so thrilled by this honor,” said Reichl. “Looking back, I can’t help thinking how much the world has changed in my lifetime. When I started writing about food, Americans paid so little attention to what and how we eat that the very notion of honoring someone for a career like mine would have seemed absurd.” More information on the voting process for the Lifetime Achievement Award can be viewed here.

Humanitarian of the Year Award

The Humanitarian of the Year Award honors an individual or organization within the food industry who has demonstrated exceptional selflessness and unwavering dedication to improving the lives of others and society as a whole.

The 2024 Humanitarian of the Year Award honoree is The LEE Initiative, an organization that promotes diversity, equity, and empowerment for employees within the restaurant industry. Founded in 2017 by chef Edward Lee and Lindsey Ofcacek, The LEE Initiative—an acronym for Let’s Empower Employment—is responsible for creating programs that advance women, amplify Black voices, and explore sustainable policies for restaurants. Known for its relief work, The LEE Initiative has raised over $5 million in direct aid and investments for small farms, Black-owned food businesses, COVID-19 support, and more. In 2021, Ofcacek and chef Lee were honored with the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award for their work through The LEE Initiative.

“The Lee Initiative is honored to receive the JBF Humanitarian [of the Year] Award and we accept it on behalf of every single restaurant worker who has gone above and beyond to ensure that the best of our restaurant culture stays alive and relevant for the next generation,” said Ofcacek. “Our work is rooted in community, collaboration, and a common goal to create a kinder more equitable future for the hospitality industry. We are honored to work alongside you,” added Lee.

The Humanitarian of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Honorees will be recognized at the Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on Monday, June 10 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. More information on the voting process for Lifetime Achievement and Humanitarian of the Year Awards can be viewed here.

Restaurant and Chef Awards Nominees

The James Beard Foundation’s Restaurant and Chef Awards—established in 1990 and first awarded in 1991—is one of five separate recognition programs of the Awards. This Awards program celebrates excellence across a range of experiences, from fine-dining establishments to casual gems, and emerging talents to established luminaries.

The 2024 Restaurant and Chef Awards nominees are recognized across 22 categories. Winners will be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on Monday, June 10 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

“The Restaurant and Chef Awards Committee extends its heartfelt congratulations to the 2024 nominees—an exceptional list of culinary leaders and teams whose unique contributions greatly enrich
our industry and broader food culture,” said Restaurant and Chef Committee Co-Chairs, Lauren Saria and Allecia Vermillion.

The 2024 Restaurant and Chef Awards nominees are:

Outstanding Restaurateur:

A restaurateur who uses their establishment(s) as a vehicle for building community, demonstrates creativity in entrepreneurship, integrity in restaurant operations, and is making efforts to create a sustainable work culture, while contributing positively to their broader community.

  • Mamba Hamissi and Nadia Nijimbere, Baobab Fare, Detroit, MI
  • Quynh-Vy and Yenvy Pham, Phở Bắc Súp Shop, Phởcific Standard Time, and The Boat, Seattle, WA
  • Chris Viaud, Greenleaf, Ansanm, and Pavilion, Milford and Wolfeboro, NH
  • Hollis Wells Silverman, Eastern Point Collective (The Duck & The Peach, La Collina, The Wells, and others), Washington, D.C.
  • Erika Whitaker and Kelly Whitaker, ID EST (The Wolf’s Tailor, BRUTØ, Basta, and others), Boulder, CO

Outstanding Chef presented by Hilton:

A chef who sets high culinary standards and has served as a positive example for other food professionals, while contributing positively to their broader community.

  • Sarah Minnick, Lovely’s Fifty Fifty, Portland, OR
  • Dean Neff, Seabird, Wilmington, NC
  • Michael Rafidi, Albi, Washington, D.C.
  • Renee Touponce, The Port of Call, Mystic, CT
  • David Uygur, Lucia, Dallas, TX

Outstanding Restaurant presented by Acqua Panna® Natural Spring Water:

A restaurant that demonstrates consistent excellence in food, atmosphere, hospitality, and operations, while contributing positively to its broader community

  • The Compound, Santa Fe, NM
  • Convenience West, Marfa, TX
  • Langbaan, Portland, OR
  • Mixtli, San Antonio, TX
  • Vestige, Ocean Springs, MS

Emerging Chef presented by S.Pellegrino® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water:

A chef who displays exceptional talent, character, and leadership ability, and who is likely to make a significant impact in years to come, while contributing positively to their broader community.

  • Fariyal Abdullahi, Hav & Mar, New York, NY
  • Janet Becerra, Pancita, Seattle, WA
  • Nikko Cagalanan, Kultura, Charleston, SC
  • Ryan Fernandez, Southern Junction, Buffalo, NY
  • Masako Morishita, Perry’s, Washington, D.C.

Best New Restaurant:

A restaurant opened between October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023, that already demonstrates excellence in cuisine, seems likely to make a significant impact in years to come, and demonstrates consistent excellence in food, atmosphere, hospitality, and operations, while contributing positively to its broader community.

  • Bar Bacetto, Waitsburg, WA
  • Barbs-B-Q, Lockhart, TX
  • Chez Noir, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
  • Comfort Kitchen, Dorchester, MA
  • Dakar NOLA, New Orleans, LA
  • Hayward, McMinnville, OR
  • Kaya, Orlando, FL
  • Kisser, Nashville, TN
  • Oro by Nixta, Minneapolis, MN
  • Shan, Bozeman, MT

Outstanding Bakery:

A baker of breads, pastries, or desserts that demonstrates consistent excellence in food, atmosphere, hospitality, and operations while contributing positively to its broader community.

  • The Burque Bakehouse, Albuquerque, NM
  • Gusto Bread, Long Beach, CA
  • JinJu Patisserie, Portland, OR
  • Mel the Bakery, Hudson, NY
  • ZU Bakery, Portland, ME

Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker:

A pastry chef or baker who makes desserts, pastries, or breads. Candidate demonstrates exceptional skills and can be affiliated with any food business and does not need a brick-and-mortar presence. Candidates contribute positively to their broader community.

  • Susan Bae, Moon Rabbit, Washington, D.C.
  • Jesus Brazon and Manuel Brazon, Caracas Bakery, Doral and Miami, FL
  • Atsuko Fujimoto, Norimoto Bakery, Portland, ME
  • Crystal Kass, Valentine, Phoenix, AZ
  • Anna Posey, Elske, Chicago, I

Outstanding Hospitality presented by American Airlines:

A restaurant, bar or other food and drinking establishment that fosters a sense of hospitality among its customers and staff that serves as a beacon for the community and demonstrates consistent excellence in food, atmosphere, hospitality, and operations while contributing positively to its broader community.

  • Crawford and Son, Raleigh, NC
  • Gemma, Dallas, TX
  • Lula Cafe, Chicago, IL
  • Melba’s, New York, NY
  • Woodford Food & Beverage, Portland, ME

Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program:

This Award is presented to a restaurant that demonstrates exceptional care and skill in the pairing of wine and other beverages with food while contributing positively to its broader community. This includes the selection, preparation, and serving of wine, cocktails, spirits, coffee, tea, beer or any other beverage with outstanding hospitality and service that help inform and enhance a customer’s appreciation of the beverage(s). Ethical sourcing and positive contributions to the broader community will also be considered.

  • Lula Drake Wine Parlour, Columbia, SC
  • The Morris, San Francisco, CA
  • Strong Water Anaheim, Anaheim, CA
  • Tail Up Goat, Washington, D.C.
  • Waxlight Bar à Vin, Buffalo, NY

Outstanding Bar:

This award is presented to a wine bar, beer bar, cocktail bar, coffee bar, or any other business whose primary offering is beverage and that demonstrates consistent excellence in curating a selection or in the preparation of drinks, along with outstanding atmosphere, hospitality, and operations while contributing positively to its broader community.

  • Barr Hill Cocktail Bar, Montpelier, VT
  • Clavel Mezcaleria, Baltimore, MD
  • Jewel of the South, New Orleans, LA
  • Las Ramblas, Brownsville, TX
  • Pacific Cocktail Haven, San Francisco, CA

Best Chefs presented by Capital One (by region):

Chefs who set high standards in their culinary skills and leadership abilities, and who are making efforts to help create a sustainable work culture in their respective regions while contributing positively to their broader community.

Best Chef: California

  • Geoff Davis, Burdell, Oakland, CA
  • Rogelio Garcia, Auro, Calistoga, CA
  • Lord Maynard Llera, Kuya Lord, Los Angeles, CA
  • Tara Monsod, Animae, San Diego, CA
  • Buu “Billy” Ngo, Kru, Sacramento, CA

Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)

  • Vinnie Cimino, Cordelia, Cleveland, OH
  • Jose Salazar, Mita’s, Cincinnati, OH
  • Sujan Sarkar, Indienne, Chicago, IL
  • Hajime Sato, Sozai, Clawson, MI
  • Jenner Tomaska, Esmé, Chicago, IL

Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)

  • Tony Conte, Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana, Darnestown, MD
  • Jesse Ito, Royal Sushi & Izakaya, Philadelphia, PA
  • Matt Kern, One Coastal, Fenwick Island, DE
  • Harley Peet, Bas Rouge, Easton, MD
  • Kevin Tien, Moon Rabbit, Washington, D.C.

Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI)

  • Ann Ahmed, Khâluna, Minneapolis, MN
  • Rob Connoley, Bulrush, St. Louis, MO
  • Dan Jacobs and Dan Van Rite, EsterEv, Milwaukee, WI
  • Christina Nguyen, Hai Hai, Minneapolis, MN
  • Tim Nicholson, The Boiler Room, Omaha, NE

Best Chef: Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY)

  • Brandon Cunningham, Social Haus, Greenough, MT
  • Ali Sabbah, Mazza Cafe, Salt Lake City, UT
  • Matt Vawter, Rootstalk, Breckenridge, CO
  • Penelope Wong, Yuan Wonton, Denver, CO
  • Nick Zocco, Urban Hill, Salt Lake City, UT

Best Chef: New York State

  • Nasim Alikhani, Sofreh, Brooklyn, NY
  • Atsushi Kono, Kono, New York, NY
  • Chris Mauricio, Harana Market, Accord, NY
  • Charlie Mitchell, Clover Hill, Brooklyn, NY
  • Jeremy Salamon, Agi’s Counter, Brooklyn, NY

Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)

  • Conor Dennehy, Talulla, Cambridge, MA
  • Maria Meza, Dolores, Providence, RI
  • David Standridge, The Shipwright’s Daughter, Mystic, CT
  • Jake Stevens, Leeward, Portland, ME
  • Cara Tobin, Honey Road, Burlington, VT

Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA)

  • Avery Adams, Matia Kitchen, Orcas Island, WA
  • Kristi Brown, Communion, Seattle, WA
  • Josh Dorcak, MÄS, Ashland, OR
  • Gregory Gourdet, kann, Portland, OR
  • Melissa Miranda, Musang, Seattle, WA

Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)

  • Jamie Davis, The Hackney, Washington, NC
  • Rod Lassiter and Parnass Savang, Talat Market, Atlanta, GA
  • James London, Chubby Fish, Charleston, SC
  • Robbie Robinson, City Limits Barbeque, West Columbia, SC
  • Paul Smith, 1010 Bridge, Charleston, WV

Best Chef: South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS, PR)

  • Valerie Chang, Maty’s, Miami, FL
  • Hunter Evans, Elvie’s, Jackson, MS
  • Gabriel Hernandez, Verde Mesa, San Juan, PR
  • Carlos Portela, Orujo, San Juan, PR
  • Arvinder Vilkhu, Saffron, New Orleans, LA

Best Chef: Southwest (AZ, NM, NV, OK)

  • Rene Andrade, Bacanora, Phoenix, AZ
  • Jeff Chanchaleune, Ma Der Lao Kitchen, Oklahoma City, OK
  • Steve Kestler, Aroma Latin American Cocina, Henderson, NV
  • Steve Riley, Mesa Provisions, Albuquerque, NM
  • Eduardo Rodriguez, Zacatlán, Santa Fe, NM

Best Chef: Texas

  • Emmanuel Chavez, Tatemó, Houston, TX
  • Christopher Cullum, Cullum’s Attaboy, San Antonio, TX
  • Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel, Birdie’s, Austin, TX
  • Misti Norris, Petra & the Beast, Dallas, TX
  • Ana Liz Pulido, Ana Liz Taqueria, Mission, TX

*As of the 2023 Awards cycle, the Restaurant and Chef Awards defines the annual eligibility time frame as October through September (formerly January through December) to allow the voting body more time to consider businesses opening later in the calendar year.

More information on the voting process for the Restaurant and Chef Awards can be viewed here.

Upcoming Awards Announcements

  • April 30, 2024: James Beard Media Awards nominees are announced
  • The 2024 Awards ceremonies will be held in our proud host city of Chicago on the following dates:
    • Saturday, June 8, 2024: Media Awards at Columbia College Chicago Student Center
    • Sunday, June 9, 2024: Leadership Awards at The Dalcy
    • Monday, June 10, 2024: Restaurant and Chef Awards at Lyric Opera of Chicago

Tickets for the 33rd annual James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards in Chicago go on sale April 9 and can be purchased on the James Beard Foundation website. The Awards will be livestreamed Monday, June 10 on Eater.com.

“Our ongoing partnership with the James Beard Foundation is special in that not only does it allow us to provide our cardholders access to incredible culinary experiences, but it also gives us the chance to honor the best in the industry through the James Beard ceremonies,” said Monica Weaver, Head of Branded Card Partnerships and Experiences at Capital One. “It’s an extra special honor this year to welcome the nomination ceremony to our hometown in the Washington, D.C. area. We look forward to celebrating all of the nominees later this year and congratulate them on their contributions to the culinary industry.”

“Chicagoans know how special the restaurant scene is here, so it is an honor for the James Beard Foundation to continue to recognize that as well,” said Rich Gamble, Interim President and CEO,
Choose Chicago. “We look forward to hosting the James Beard Awards for another year in our great city with an impressive group of nominees, winners, and honorees.”

The 2024 James Beard Awards are presented by Capital One, the official credit card and banking partner of the James Beard Foundation. The James Beard Awards are proudly hosted by Choose Chicago and the Illinois Restaurant Association, and presented in association with Hilton, as well as with the following partners: Premier Sponsors: Acqua Panna® Natural Spring Water, American Airlines, the official airline of the James Beard Foundation, HEINZ, HMSHost, S.Pellegrino® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water, Stella Artois; Supporting Sponsors: HexClad Cookware, Skuna Bay Salmon; Reception Sponsors: Ecolab, Kendall College at National Louis University, Windstar Cruises, the official cruise line of the James Beard Foundation; Additional Support Sponsors: Cristaux, Paperchase, Plugrà® Premium European Style Butter, VerTerra Dinnerware. Intersport is the Official Broadcast Partner of the 2024 James Beard Awards.

For more information about the James Beard Awards, visit jamesbeard.org/awards. For up-to-the-minute news about the Awards, follow @beardfoundation on X (Twitter) and Instagram, and keep an eye out for posts using #JBFA

ABOUT THE JAMES BEARD AWARDS

The James Beard Awards recognizes exceptional talent and achievement in the culinary arts, hospitality, media, and broader food system, as well as a demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive. Established in 1990, the James Beard Awards are among the nation’s most prestigious honors recognizing leaders in the culinary and food media industries. The Awards are overseen by the Awards Committee. Each Awards program (Books, Broadcast Media, Journalism, Leadership, and Restaurant and Chef) has its own subcommittee members who volunteer their time to oversee the policies, procedures, and selection of judges for their respective program. All James Beard Award winners receive a certificate and a medallion engraved with the James Beard Foundation Awards insignia. For more information, subscribe to the Awards digital newsletter.

ABOUT THE JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION

The James Beard Foundation (JBF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that celebrates and supports the people behind America’s food culture, while pushing for new standards in the restaurant industry to create a future where all have the opportunity to thrive. Established over 30 years ago, the Foundation has highlighted the centrality of food culture in our daily lives and is committed to supporting a resilient and flourishing industry that honors its diverse communities. By amplifying new voices, celebrating those leading the way, and supporting those on the path to do so, the Foundation is working to create a more equitable and sustainable future—what we call Good Food for Good®. JBF brings its mission to life through the annual Awards, industry and community-focused programs, advocacy, partnerships, and events across the country. For the first time in the Foundation’s history, exceptional culinary talent, industry leaders, and visitors from NYC and beyond can experience unforgettable dining and educational programming at Platform by JBF—inspiring food and beverage devotees for decades to come. Learn more at jamesbeard.org, sign up for our newsletter, and follow @beardfoundation on social media.

ABOUT CAPITAL ONE

At Capital One, we’re on a mission for our customers – bringing them best-in-class products, rewards, service, and experiences. Capital One is a diversified bank that offers products and services to
individuals, small businesses, and commercial clients. We use technology, innovation, and interaction to provide consumers with products and services to meet their needs. Through Capital One Dining and Capital One Entertainment, we provide our rewards cardholders with access to unforgettable experiences in the areas they’re passionate about, including dining, music, and sports. Learn more at capitalone.com/dining and capitalone.com/entertainment.

Image: Shutterstock. Disclaimer: This image was generated by an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system.

KRG Hospitality. Restaurant Business Plan. Feasibility Study. Concept. Branding. Consultant. Start-Up.

Small campervan made from VW Beetle on the side of the highway
by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

Campspot’s Top Canadian & US Campgrounds

Campspot’s Top Canadian & US Campgrounds

by David Klemt

Small campervan made from VW Beetle on the side of the highway

Campspot helps campers, road-trippers, and adventurers select their next place to call home when traveling throughout North America.

Visitors to the Campspot site will find reviews and lists of amenities for more than 230,000 campgrounds.

Further, they select ten campgrounds across several categories for their Campspot Awards. Below, the top ten Campspot campgrounds for 2024 in Canada and the US. Oh, and there’s a bonus section for the five glamping sites that earned Campspot Awards.

However, I’ve done more than just share a few awards lists. In this article, I’ve also shared what basics and amenities these campgrounds have in common, and a number of standout features.

It’s important for current and future campground operators to know what guests expect, and what will make their visits memorable (in a good way).

Let’s check out this year’s award winners!

2024 Campspot Awards: Canada

  • Pathfinder Camp Resorts: Agassiz-Harrison, 4.6 stars (Agassiz, British Columbia)
  • Pinnacle Trails Resort, 4.4 stars (Yellowhead County, Alberta)
  • Sun Retreats Sherkston Shores, 4.4 stars (Sherkston, Ontario)
  • Village Des Écluses, 4.4 stars (Pointe-des-Cascades, Québec)
  • River Run Resort & Grill, 4.2 stars (Kingsclear, New Brunswick)
  • Dinosaur Trail RV Resort & Cabins, 4.1 stars (Drumheller, Alberta)
  • Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park™ Camp-Resort: Kingston, 4.0 stars (Kingston, Nova Scotia)
  • Candle Lake Golf Resort, 4.0 stars (Candle Lake, Saskatchewan)
  • Logos Land Resort, 3.7 stars (Cobden, Ontario)
  • Pacific Playgrounds Oceanside Resort, 3.2 stars (Black Creek, British Columbia)

2024 Campspot Awards: US

  • Brialee Family Campground, 4.9 stars (Ashford, Connecticut)
  • Greenbrier Campground, 4.9 stars (Gatlinburg, Tennessee)
  • Jackson Rancheria Casino & RV Resort, 4.9 stars (Jackson, California)
  • Stonebridge RV Resort, 4.9 stars (Maggie Valley, North Carolina)
  • Ocean Grove RV Resort: St. Augustine, 4.8 stars (St. Augustine, Florida)
  • Paradise by the Sea Beach RV Resort, 4.8 stars (Oceanside, California)
  • Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort, 4.8 stars (Felton, California)
  • Canyon View RV Resort, 4.7 stars (Grand Junction, Colorado)
  • Verde Ranch RV Resort, 4.7 stars (Camp Verde, Arizona)
  • Sun Outdoors Myrtle Beach, 4.5 stars (Conway, South Carolina)

Amenities & Trends

When one takes a good look at both lists, a few commonalities jump out.

Most notably, the inclusion of the word “resort” in most of the above campground names. In fact, eight of the ten campgrounds on Campspot’s Canadian list feature the word. That number drops by just one on the American list.

This makes sense, of course. When people see the word “resort,” it speaks to an elevated guest experience. So, when people are making plans and searching for somewhere to camp, finding a resort may be a more attractive proposition.

One they’re there, though, what’s the actual experience? What are the amenities helping guests make their selections and, hopefully, converting them to repeat guests?

I took a look at each campground and found these in common, starting with the basics:

  • bathrooms
  • dump station
  • garbage
  • general store
  • Internet access
  • laundry
  • showers

Many campgrounds (or RV resorts) also feature experiential amenities:

  • availability of alcohol
  • arcade
  • bike rentals
  • dog park
  • hiking
  • hot tub / sauna
  • ice cream
  • pavilion
  • pool
  • playground
  • snack stand
  • sports (basketball, volleyball, fishing, paddle boats, etc.)

There are, of course, some more unique amenities, such as:

  • arts and crafts (Verde Ranch)
  • gaga ball (Logos Land)
  • golf cart rentals (Candle Lake, Sun Retreats)
  • mini-golf (Pinnacle Trails)
  • outdoor theater (Pinnacle Trails)
  • restaurant (Jackson Rancheria, Ocean Grove, Santa Cruz, Sun Outdoors, Sun Retreats, Village Des Écluses)
  • shuffleboard (Verde Ranch)
  • waterpark (Pinnacle Trails, Sun Retreats, Verde Ranch)

Bonus: 2024 Campspot Awards: Glamping

  • Blue Mesa Adventure Pods at Elk Creek Campground, 5.0 stars (Gunnison, Colorado)
  • Buck Hill Campground, 5.0 stars (Newland, North Carolina)
  • Jellystone Park™ Camp-Resort: Glen Ellis, 4.7 stars (Glen, New Hampshire)
  • Smokiam RV Resort, 4.6 stars (Soap Lake, Washington)
  • Westward Shores Cottages & RV Resorts, 4.2 stars (West Ossipee, New Hampshire)

Notably, the top two glamping campgrounds on this list don’t use the word “resort.”

Moreover, Jellystone Glen Ellis and Westward Shores feature dozens of attractive amenities. For example, both have access to a beach and a restaurant. Guests can also play laser tag, rent golf carts, access cable TV, and take part in arts and crafts.

At Jellystone Glen Ellis, guests can play mini-golf or enjoy a waterpark. People who enjoy boating will be happy that Westward Shores has a boat launch.

Interestingly, none of the campgrounds on the Canada, US, or glamping lists notes cornhole as an amenity. With so many offering horseshoes, I would’ve thought cornhole would also be available.

Image: Tiffany Bauer on Pexels

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