Three W'burg Restaurant Chefs Are James Beard Award Semifinalists

WILLIAMSBURG, BROOKLYN — Williamsburg's reputation as a culinary destination just got a boost. The neighborhood has landed the most restaurants and chefs on the James Beard Award's semifinalist list than any other neighborhood in the borough.

Three restaurant chefs — two from Taiwanese-American eatery Win Son and one from Peruvian spot Llama Inn — are in the running for the Best Chef in New York City award. Another chef, from Italian restaurant Lilia, is up for the Outstanding Chef category.

The chef team from Win Son, Josh Ku and Trigg Brown, opened their contemporary spot in 2016 on Graham Avenue in East Williamsburg. Llama Inn, led by chef Erik Ramirez, and Lilia, headed by chef Missy Robbins, are also relatively new to the scene.

Llama Inn opened up on Withers Street in 2015 and Lilia on Union Ave in 2016.

The final winners will be announced during a press conference in Houston on Wednesday, March 27. It will be hosted by James Beard Award–winning chef Hugo Ortega at his namesake Mexican restaurant, Hugo's.

Other Brooklyn spots include Leyenda in Cobble Hill, Insa in Gowanus and Hometown Bar-B-Que in Red Hook.

The James Beard Foundation solicits entries for the awards in mid-October of each year. They are reviewed by the Restaurant and Chef Committee to determine eligibility and regional representation. More than 600 judges from across the country determine the final nominees, then select the winners. The judges include leading regional restaurant critics, food and wine editors, culinary educators and past James Beard Award winners.

Click here for the complete list of semifinalists.