Two out, proud LGBTQ Boston chefs are among the semifinalists announced this week for prestigious 2020 James Beard Foundation Awards—Tiffani Faison for best chef, and for best new restaurant Karen Akunowicz’s Fox & Knife. (Akunowicz won a James Beard best chef award in 2018.)
Winners will be announced by a press release on May 27 instead of at the usual awards gala, which will not be held this year due to social distancing precautions, according to a May 4 Boston magazine report.
“Some of the restaurants announced today are temporarily closed, some are operating in another form, such as take-out or meal relief efforts, whilst others have already announced that they will permanently close,” Clare Reichenbach, the foundation’s CEO, said in an announcement the foundation posted on Twitter.
“Today we acknowledge the accomplishments of all of the people behind these restaurants, and the need for us all to fight for this industry that employs 16 million people and is a vital part of American culture,” Reichenbach said.
Notes BostonChefs.com on Faison:
Chef Tiffani Faison of [Boston restaurants] Sweet Cheeks, Tiger Mama and Fool’s Errand, has made a name for herself nationwide for her dynamic personality, fierce work ethic and distinct ability to create restaurants that are warm, creative, and instantly lovable.
Faison began her career working under such renowned chefs as Daniel Boulud, Alain Ducasse, Todd English and Tony Maws. In 2006, early into her career, she was cast on the very first season of Bravo’s Top Chef, and placed as runner-up. From there, she worked in prestigious kitchens in Nantucket, New Orleans, Los Angeles, and San Francisco before returning to Boston in 2010. …
Outside of the kitchen, Faison has been a frequent judge on Food Network’s “Chopped” and “Chopped Grill Masters,” and has competed on “Top Chef All-Stars.” …
Faison lives in Jamaica Plain with her wife and business partner Kelly Walsh and furry kids. She is a tireless advocate of LGBT human rights.
As for Akunowicz, says BostonChefs.com:
In 2011, [Karen Akunowicz] joined the team at Myers+Chang as Executive Chef, creating powerful, spicy and craveable dishes, drawing inspiration from Chinese, Taiwanese, and Southeast Asian cuisine. During her seven year tenure there she received both local and national praise, including a four-star review in The Boston Globe, and Boston magazine’s Best Chef award in 2016.
In 2015, Akunowicz became a fan favorite when she competed on Bravo’s Emmy nominated show “Top Chef,” and has also appeared on Food Network’s “Beat Bobby Flay.” In 2016, she was called one of the “21 Badass Women Changing the Food World” by Marie Claire magazine, and the following year she co-authored Myers+Chang at Home (Houghton Mifflin; 2017) with Chef Joanne Chang.
In 2018, Akunowicz won the prestigious James Beard Foundation Award in the category of Best Chef: Northeast. She also made the momentous decision to strike out on her own to open a restaurant called Fox & the Knife, which would allow her to indulge her love of creating Italian-inspired food and drink served in a warm and welcoming enoteca.
When she’s not in the kitchen, Akunowicz writes lifestyle articles and recipes for Prowder.com and is proud to be a No Kid Hungry Chef, working with the organization Share our Strength to eradicate childhood hunger.
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