Save
The James Beard Foundation has announced the 2022 America's Classics Awards with six US eateries joining a list that includes over 100 in the category. The winners will be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on Monday 13 June, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
The America's Classics Award has, since 1998, recognised locally-owned restaurants that have “timeless appeal and are beloved regionally for quality food that reflects the character of its community”. These are the six new additions to the honour roll.
Casa Vega
13301 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA
A reference point for Mexican food in the San Fernando Valley since 1956, Casa Vega has been serving locals albondigas, enchiladas, sweet corn tamales, and tostadas in a classic red-boothed dining room where everyone is welcome and made to feel at home. Founder Rafael 'Ray' Vega sadly passed away in 2021, but his daughter Christina 'Christy' Vega carries on his legacy and is deeply involved in supporting the greater Latin American community in Los Angeles.
Corinne’s Place
1254 Haddon Ave, Camden, NJ
Corinne Bradley-Powers’ upbeat and fun-filled restaurant serves as a hub in a community facing economic challenges, yet manages to do it with a consistently excellent culinary offering, including Cajun-spiced turkey wings, the picnic-perfect black-eyed peas, the tender pig’s feet in zesty sauce, the smothered pork chops, the sweet potato pie, and of course her famous classic fried chicken.
Solly’s Grille
4629 N Port Washington Rd, Milwaukee, WI
Wisconsin is home to the butter burger - an homage to the states dairy farming history - and Solly's Grille does one of the finest in the state. Created in 1936 by Kenneth 'Solly' Salmon, this sandwich features ground sirloin with stewed onions with the crowning glory of farm-fresh Wisconsin butter that overflows onto the plate.
Wo Hop
17 Mott St, New York, NY
Serving a unique Chinese-American cuisine in the basement of 17 Mott Street since 1938, Wo Hop is a family-run restaurant in the style of the 'old fashioned chop suey' restaurant. This place manages to be uniquely Chinese-American and uniquely New York at the same time. A real treasure.
The Busy Bee Café
810 Martin Luther King Jr Dr, SW Atlanta, GA
Founded by Lucy Jackson in 1947, the Busy Bee Café was a pioneering black-owned business in the midst of Jim Crow-era Atlanta. It was frequented by Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights icons, who like so many others visited for the delicious soul food of fried chicken, ham hocks, catfish, collard greens, macaroni cheese and cornbread.
Florence’s Restaurant
1437 Northeast 23rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK
Florence Jones Kemp opened her very own Oklahoma City restaurant in 1952 with nothing more than "two chickens and a prayer". 70 years later, the restaurant is still there and so is Florence, cooking regularly alongside daughter Victoria in the kitchen. Serving "good country food for the soul", Florence's is a restaurant that is an indelible part of the community with a proud history and a bright future.
When Will The James Beard Awards Be Back?
The James Beard Foundation has announced that a newly-evolved version of the James Beard Awards will take place in 2022,after two years of being cancelled, during which time there has been an audit on policies and procedures. The ceremony will take place on Monday, 13 June, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Does the James Beard Foundation Judge Restaurants on Social Justice?
The JBF Awards has announced that it will not be judging restaurants on food and service alone, but rather candidates must have shown a “demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, environmental sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive”.
