Columbia, SC: Four South Carolina Nominees Shortlisted for Prestigious James Beard Awards

Columbia, SC —Four South Carolina Nominees Shortlisted for Prestigious James Beard Awards

South Carolina is set to make a mark on the national food scene as four of its own have been named as finalists in the highly-regarded James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards. The annual event will take place in Chicago this summer, and could potentially see South Carolina home to three of the award recipients.

Two of the finalists are based in the Columbia area and two hail from Charleston. In a unique twist, two of these chefs are competitors for the same award.

Lula Drake Wine Parlour Revisits as Finalist

Lula Drake Wine Parlour, a Columbia-based establishment, received its second James Beard nomination. After being a finalist in the Outstanding Hospitality category last year, this year the Wine Parlour is recognized in the Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program category. Finalists competing with Lula Drake Wine Parlour include The Morris in San Francisco; Strong Water Anaheim in Anaheim, Calif.; Tail Up Goat in Washington, D.C.; and Waxlight Bar à Vin in Buffalo, N.Y.

Emerging Chef nominee from Charleston

Charleston boasts a nominee in the Emerging Chef category: Nikko Cagalanan of Kultura, the only chef representing the South. Cagalanan, a former champion on the Food Network’s “Chopped” show in 2022, stands alongside chefs from Hav & Mar in New York City; Pancita in Seattle; Southern Junction in Buffalo, N.Y.; and Perry’s in Washington, D.C.

Best Chef Southeast with South Carolina Finalists

For the Best Chef Southeast category, two South Carolinian talents are represented: Robbie Robinson of City Limits Barbecue in West Columbia, and James London with Chubby Fish in Charleston. Their fellow finalists are from the Hackney in Washington, D.C., Talat Market in Atlanta and 1010 Bridge in Charleston, W.Va., covering a geographical spread of five states.

The finalists emerged on April 3 through an announcement at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, D.C. This marks the second consecutive year that the Columbia region has seen two James Beard finalists, testament to its growing significance in the culinary world.

“This achievement is proof of the incredible culinary talent who call the Columbia region home. We wish both of our finalists the best and want them to know how proud we are of them,” said Bill Ellen, president and CEO of Experience Columbia SC.

The James Beard Awards ceremony will be livestreamed via Eater.com on June 10 from the Lyric Opera, Chigaco. The James Beard Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission lies in celebrating, supporting, and uplifting the people behind America’s food culture, and championing a standard of good food which is rooted in talent, equity, and sustainability.