02 June 2023

PARTIALLY OBSCURED: The James Beard Foundation’s Ongoing Drama, Explained " Bon Apetit!

 

The James Beard Foundation's Ongoing Drama Explained
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The James Beard Foundation’s Ongoing Drama, Explained

An Alabama chef was disqualified from award consideration on May 11 for allegedly breaching the foundation’s code of ethics. It’s not the foundation’s first run-in with controversy.
The James Beard Foundation's Ongoing Drama Explained
Bon Appétit / Getty

"The James Beard Foundation is no stranger to drama, but the organization managed to avoid major debacles over the past year. Many people heralded its most recent Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony in 2022—the first since a two-year hiatus—as an era of change for JBF, with a rocky two years in the rearview.

That is until May 11, when Alabama chef Timothy Hontzas was removed from consideration for this year’s prestigious awards. His quiet disqualification, which was not communicated to committee members before it became public knowledge through local reporting, resurfaced familiar criticism of JBF’s opaque and generally confusing procedures. . .

Despite the controversy, the awards are widely regarded as one of the most prestigious in the restaurant world. In a black-tie ceremony, JBF deems a number of chefs, restaurateurs, and bar owners across the country the best in their craft each year, per the organization’s criteria. It’s a highly coveted accolade that can fundamentally change a chef’s career. For diners, it’s a road map of some of the best restaurants across the country. 

But over the years, the foundation has found itself at the center of myriad dramas. From issues of diversity in its pool of winners to internal and external critiques of disciplinary procedures, it’s been a rough few years for the Beards. From internal demands for more diversity to criticism for a lack of transparency in judging methods, here’s a timeline of Beard-related drama over the past three years. . . "

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