The James Beard Foundation has recently announced the nominees for the 2024 James Beard Awards. The awards are considered one of the highest distinctions for those in the culinary and food industry. Aside from recognizing noteworthy restaurants and chefs, the foundation also recognizes work in culinary and food media.
This year, the Philippines has five nominations in the roster across different categories, from print, broadcast, and social media.
Fresh from winning the People’s Voice Award at the 28th Webby Awards, food content creator Abi Marquez is also nominated for a Broadcast Media award under the Social Media Account category. Marquez, whose content appears on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, has been known locally as the “Lumpia Queen,” for her long-running series on dishes cooked and presented in lumpia form. She also regularly produces recipes in collaboration with brands and other food content creators.
Digital video channel Featr is nominated in the Docuseries Visual Media and Visual Media—Long Form categories, for three different features: “Philippine Salt Series,” “Most Expensive Chocolate in the World (Heirloom Ingredients of Negros Occidental Philippines)” and “Why Is the Filipino Calamansi Being Left Behind.”
Meanwhile, Fil-Am baker Abi Balingit gets a nomination for the Book Award, under the Baking and Desserts category, for her book “Mayumu: Filipino American Desserts Remixed.” The cookbook, published in 2023, was also included in The New York Times’ Best Cookbooks of 2023.
Several Fil-Am chefs have also been shortlisted for the James Beard Awards in the Best Chef category.
The awards ceremony for the Media Awards is set to take place on June 8 at the Columbia College Chicago while the ceremony awarding the best restaurants and chefs will be held on June 10 at the Lyric Opera, Chicago.