Michael Rafidi, the Palestinian American behind Albi in Washington, won the James Beard Award for outstanding chef on Monday.
Michael Rafidi, the chef and owner of Albi in Washington, won the James Beard Award for outstanding chef in America on Monday in Chicago. in America, Michael Rafidi didn’t leap out of his seat in celebration at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. The chef and owner ofand tennis shoes on his feet, and stood at the lectern to make a surprise announcement: He had lost the speech he wrote.It didn’t matter.
“We are seeing unspeakable horrors in my homeland, we are seeing food being used as a weapon of war, to starve people and deprive them of their human rights,” Rafidi wrote. “The very land that for generations provided my family and millions with the ingredients and recipes that sustained life and made it possible for someone like me to stand on that stage is in danger and we must all speak out against it.
The situation is personal to Rafidi. His extended family in Ramallah lives with the violence around them. “This has been going on for decades. But it is only getting worse in the West Bank,” he said. “I don’t know if you saw … theRafidi is not someone who views awards as a kind of coronation of Palestinian cuisine in America. “I don’t know if I need confirmation from anyone on what we’re doing. There’s been a mission with me cooking this kind of food ever since Albi opened.
“What a huge moment for Palestinians to hold our heads up high with pride and hope in a devastating time,” Assil said in a text. “This accolade to Palestine shows he knows the power of his voice and his willingness to use it.”
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Curated Cuisine: A taste of Talulla with James Beard Award-nominated chef Conor DennehyCitySpace celebrates cutting edge conversations, adventurous art, innovative ideas. CitySpace is WBUR on stage.
Read more »
My 2 Cents LA serves modern comfort foods from James Beard Award semifinalist Chef Alisa ReynoldsChef Alisa Reynolds of the beloved Mid-City eatery My 2 Cents LA is a James Beard Award semifinalist and also stars in a Hulu series. But what keeps this SoCal native humble is baked into the name of her restaurant, which she started in 2013 when all she had to her name were pennies.
Read more »
Printemps Names James Beard Award-winning Chef Gregory Gourdet Culinary Director of Its New York StorePrintemps New York sets spring 2025 opening; chef Gregory Gourdet is named culinary director of the New York store.
Read more »
James Beard award finalists include African restaurant in Detroit, pho shops in SeattleThe winning restauranteurs and chefs selected for the prestigious James Beard Awards will be announced in Chicago on June 10. Nominated restaurants are scored on their food and ethics.
Read more »
This L.A. chef just won the James Beard award for Best Chef: CaliforniaThe prestigious annual culinary awards named one of L.A.'s own as the top chef in the state, while Ruth Reichl, former L.A. Times Food critic and editor, received the lifetime achievement award.
Read more »
Lula Cafe is Chicago’s sole James Beard Restaurant and Chef award winner for 2024The awards are widely considered one of the highest culinary honors in the United States. For almost a decade, Chicago has been the award show’s home and a major winner.
Read more »