Gourmand Experience

Restaurants, Eateries, and Food Festivals of Note

Food Festivals

  • California Wine Festival 2019 – Carlsbad, CA VIP Attendee
  • Palm Desert Food and Wine Festival 2018. Palm Springs, CA   Attended the James Beard Four-Course Luncheon with guest chefs Fabio Viviani, Laura Werlin, Zac Young, and Richard Blais.
  • National Shrimp Festival – Gulf Shores, AL 2018
  • World Championship Gumbo Cookoff – New Iberia, LA 2018

* Member of The Southern Foodways Alliance

*Member of The International Association of Culinary Professionals

 

Asheville, NC

Cúrate

Chef Katie Button

  • Rising Star Chef of the Year James Beard Nominee 2014, 2013, 2012

 Rhubarb 

Chef John Fleer

  • Best Chef: Southeast James Beard Nominee 2017, 2015

Chef Cynthia Wong

  • Outstanding Pastry Chef James Beard Semifinalist 2016

Chai Pani

Chef Meherwan Irani

  • Best Chef: Southeast James Beard Semifinalist 2019, 2018, 2015, 2014

 

 Atlanta

Empire State South

Chef Steven Grubbs

  • Outstanding Wine Program James Beard Semifinalist 2017, 2016, 2015

One Flew South

Chef Duane Nutter

  • Outstanding Service James Beard Semifinalist 2015

Auburn, AL

Acre

Chef David Bancroft

  • Best Chef: South James Beard Semifinalist 2019 – 2016

 

 Boston, MA

Barbara Lynch Restaurant Group: Outstanding Restaurateur

Winner James Beard 2014

  • Menton

Rising Star Chef Giselle Miller James Beard Nominee 2019

AAA 5 Diamond Award

Relais and Chateau Member,

Forbes Travel Guide’s Five-Star Award

  • No 9 Park

AAA 4 Diamond

Forbes Travel Guide’s Four-Star Award

  • B&G Oyster
  • Stir
  • Sportello
  • Drink

Outstanding Bar Program Semifinalist James Beard 2012

  • Butcher Shop

Ourtstanding Wine Program James Beard Nominee 2019

  • Chef Collaborations at Spindler’s Provincetown and Eately Boston

Bar Boulud Boston

  • AAA 4 Diamond Award
  • Forbes Travel Guide Recommended

Toro

Chef Ken Oringer

  • Outstanding RestaurateurNominee James Beard 2018, 2017

 Coppa

Chef Ken Oringer

  • Outstanding Restaurateur Nominee James Beard 2018, 2017

Chef Jamie Bissonet

  • Best Chef Northeast Winner James Beard 2014. Nominee 2013, 2012

Little Donkey Cambridge, Ma

Chef Ken Oringer

  • Outstanding Restaurateur Nominee James Beard 2018, 2017

Waypoint Cambridge, MA

Chef Michael Scelfo

  • Wine Enthusiast June 2017 100 Best Wine Restaurant
  • Food and Wine Magazine May 2017 10 Best Restaurants

Craigie on Main Cambridge, Ma

Chef Tony Maws

  • Best Chef NortheastJames Beard Winner 2011 and Nominee 2010

Oleana

Chef Ana Sortun

  • Outstanding Chef Semifinalist James Beard 2010-2017, 2019

Pastry Chef Maura Kipatrick

  • Outstanding Pastry Chef Semifinalist James Beard 2011, 2014-2017

Sarma

ChefCassie Piuma

  • Best Chef Northeast Nominee/Semifinalist James Beard 2015-2018

Sofra Watertown, MA

Chef Maura Kilpatrick

  • Outstanding Baker 2019 James Beard Nominee

Tiger Mama

Chef Tiffany Faison

  • Best Chef Northeast James Beard Nominee 2019, 2018
  • Private dinner lessons with the chef
  • Chef for our wedding dinner

Neptune’s

Chef Michael Serpa

  • Food and Wine – America’s Best Oyster Bars 2019

Row 34

Chef Garrett Harker

  • Outstanding RestaurateurSemifinalist James Beard 2016-2018
  • Outstanding Bar Program Semifinalist James Beard 2016

 Deuxave

  • AAA 4 Diamond Award
  • Forbes Travel Guide’s Four-Star Award

Mooo

  • AAA 4 Diamond Award
  • Forbes Travel Guide’s Recommended

Meritage

Forbes Travel Guide’s Four-Star Award

Bristol Restaurant and Bar

  • Forbes Travel Guide’s Recommended

The Hawthorne

Restaurateur Garrett Harker

  • Outstanding Restaurateur Semifinalist James Beard 2015-2016
  • Outstanding Bar Program James Beard 2015, 2013

Eastern Standard

RestaurateurGarrett Harker

  • Outstanding Service Semifinalist James Beard 2018
  • Outstanding Restaurateur Semifinalist James Beard 2015-2016

Island Creek Oyster Bar

RestaurateurGarrett Harker

  • Outstanding Restaurateur Semifinalist James Beard 2015-2016

Branch Line

Restaurateur Garrett Harker

  • Outstanding Restaurateur Semifinalist James Beard 2015-2016

SRV

Chef Micheal Lombardi

  • Best New Restaurant Semifinalist James Beard 2017

Chickadee

Chef John deSilva and Ted Kilpatrick

  • Best New Restaurant Semifinalist James Beard 2019

Myers + Chang

Chef Karen Akunowicz

  • Best Chef Northeast James BeardWinner 2018
  • Best Chef Northeast James BeardNominee 2018, 2015

Flour Bakery

Chef Joanne Chang

  • Outstanding Chef Semifinalist James Beard 2018
  • Outstanding Chef Winner James Beard 2017
  • Outstanding Chef Nominee James Beard 2011-2016

Il Casale Belmont, MA

Chef Dante DeMagistris

  • Best Chef Northeast James Beard Semifinalist 2010

 Boulder, CO

 Oak

Chef Steven Redzikowski

  • Best Chef Southwest James Beard Semifinalist 2015

 

 Las Vegas

 Craftsteak Vegas

  • AAA 4 Diamond

GIADA

  • Wine Spectator – Award of Excellence 2017

 

Los Angeles

 Gjelina

Chef Travis Lett

  • Best Chef West James Beard Nominee 2019 – 2016, 2009

Bestia

Chef Ori Menashe

  • Best Chef West Semifinalist James Beard 2016

NoBu Malibu

  • AAA 4 Diamond Award

 

Miami

Bazaar Mar

Chef Jose Andreas

  • AAA 4 Diamond Award
  • James Beard award winning chef

The Broken Shaker

  • Outstanding Bar Program Semifinalist James Beard 2013

Sugar Rooftop Bar and Garden

  • Condé Nast- The 10 Best Rooftop Bars in the U.S. 2017

 

 Minneapolis

 Spoon and Stable

Chef Gavin Kaysen

  • Best Chef Midwest Winner 2018

Chef Diane Young

  • Outstanding Pastry Chef James Beard Nominee 2017-2018, Semifinalist 2019

 

 Mobile, AL

 Southern National

Chef Duane Nutter

  • Best New Restaurant James Beard Semifinalist 2018

True

Wesley True

  • Best Chef: South James BeardSemifinalist 2012, 2011

The Noble South

Chef Chris Rainosek

  • Where to Eat and Drink Right Now – Food and Wine April 2018

The Trellis Room

  • AAA 4 Diamond Award

 

New Orleans

 Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits

  • Outstanding Wine Program James Beard Nominee 2019, 2018, 2017

 Willa Jean

Chef Kelly Fields

  • Outstanding Pastry Chef Winner James Beard 2019
  • Outstanding Pastry Chef Nominee 2018, 2017. Semifinalist 2016

Herbsaint

Chef Donald Link

  • Outstanding Chef Semi-Finalist James Beard 2019
  • Outstanding Chef James Beard Nominee 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2011

Chef Rebecca Wilcomb

  • Best Chef: South James Beard Winner 2017

Brennan’s

Chef Slade Rushing

  • Best Chef: South James Beard Nominee 2019 -2015
  • Outstanding Wine Program James Beard Semifinalist 2014
  • AAA 4 Diamond Award

Commander’s Palace

  • Outstanding Wine Program James Beard Nominee 2016
  • Chef Tory McPhail Best Chef: South James Beard Winner 2013
  • Tory McPhail Best Chef: South James Beard Nominee 2012, 2011
  • Owner – Ella Brennan Lifetime Achievement Award James Beard Winner 2009
  • Named as 1 of 40 Most Important Restaurants in The Worldby Food and Wine – August 2018
  • AAA 4 Diamond Award

Bayona

Chef Susan Spicer

  • Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America James Beard Winner 2010
  • Forbes Travel Guide- Four Star Award

 Peche Seafood Grill

Chef Ryan Prewitt

  • Best New Restaurant James Beard Winner 2014
  • Best Chef: South James Beard Winner 2014

SoBou

Chef Juan Carlos Gonzalez

  • Best Chef of Louisiana 2017– American Culinary Federation of New Orleans, March 2017
  • Award of Excellence – Wine Spectator 2013-2018
  • Best Chef of Louisiana 2017-American Culinary Federation of New Orleans, March 2017

 

New York

 Blacktail NYC

  • Condé Nast – Best Bar in the United States 2017
  • The World’s 50 Best Bars – 2018

Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria

Chef Justin Smillie

  • Best Chef New York CitySemifinalist James Beard 2014

 Ilili

Chef Phillipe Massoud

  • International Academy of Hospitality and Sciences 5 Diamond Award 2014

Dante

  • Outstanding Bar Program Semifinalist James Beard 2018
  • The World’s 50 Best Bars – 2018

Orange Beach, AL

Fisher’s Upstairs at Orange Beach Marina

Chef Bill Briand

  • Best Chef: James Beard Semifinalist 2019 – 2016

The Gulf

Chef Wesley True- James Beard Nominee

Portland, ME

Fore Street Restaurant

Chef Sam Hayward

  • Outstanding Restaurant Nominee James Beard 2019
  • Outstanding Chef Semifinalist James Beard 2018
  • Outstanding Restaurant Semifinalist James Beard 2012-2017
  • Outstanding Chef James Beard 2011

Eventide Oyster Company

Chef Andrew Taylor

  • Best Chef Northeast Winner James Beard 2017
  • Best Chef Northeast Nominee James Beard 2015-2016

Chef Mike Wiley

  • Best Chef Northeast Winner James Beard 2017, 2015
  • Best Chef Northeast Nominee James Beard 2016

Novare Res Bier Café

  • USA Today – #5 Best Beer Bar in America 2019

Portland Hunt and Alpine Club

  • Outstanding Bar Program Semifinalist James Beard 2017, 2015

Palm Springs

 Workshop Palm Spring

  • Outstanding Restaurant Design James Beard Winner 2015

 

Washington, DC

Kinship

Chef Eric Ziebold

  • Outstanding Chef Semifinalist James Beard 2017
  • Best New Restaurant Semifinalist James Beard 2016
  • 1 Michelin Star 2019

minibar

Chef José Andrés

  • AAA 4 Diamond Award
  • Outstanding Restaurant Design James Beard Nominee 2013
  • Outstanding Chef Winner James Beard 2011 and Nominee 2010
  • 2 Michelin Stars 2019