Hello chefs! 
Welcome to this week’s news roundup, where we dish out the latest happenings in the culinary world. It’s a fun, community-focused look at what’s been going on – from industry awards to chefs making a difference. Grab a coffee (or a spatula) and let’s dig in! 
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James Beard Award Finalists Announced: Award season is heating up! The nominees for the 2025 James Beard Awards – often dubbed the Oscars of the food world – were just revealed this week. The list highlights top chefs, restaurateurs, restaurants, and more across the country. Keep an eye out for who wins at the gala in June!
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Chefs & Lawmakers Unite for Child Care: In Washington D.C., a group of chefs and restaurant owners teamed up with Senators Katie Britt and Tim Kaine to champion better child care support for culinary workers.
They highlighted how crucial affordable child care is for keeping restaurant kitchens running, and discussed a new bipartisan bill that aims to help working parents in the industry. It’s great to see the hospitality community advocating for family-friendly policies! -
Michelin Guide Adds 16 NYC Restaurants: Michelin inspectors unveiled 16 new additions to New York City’s restaurant guide as a sneak peek of the 2025 awards. The list ranges from a revived neighborhood favorite to a posh new French steakhouse by Daniel Boulud.
These are the “ones to watch” – though there’s no guarantee they’ll get stars, it’s a tasty preview of who might shine when Michelin announces awards later this year. -
Fenway Park Chef Hits a Home Run on TV: A big congrats to Chef Ron Abell, the executive chef at Boston’s Fenway Park, for winning this week’s episode of Guy’s Grocery Games on Food Network!
He wowed the judges with a creative scallop corn chowder – complete with a peanut butter ice cream twist – in a ballpark-themed cooking challenge. He beat out two other stadium chefs and truly knocked it out of the park (pun intended) with this victory! 
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Just for Fun –
Morimoto’s 90-Foot Sushi Roll Record: Famed Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto celebrated the launch of a new cruise ship sushi bar by helping create a 90-foot-long maki roll at sea. Yes, 90 feet! 
The massive roll (built with 55 pounds of rice and 33 pounds of tuna) might be a world record for the longest sushi roll made on a ship. It’s one seriously supersized sushi 
– and a memorable way to set sail with a new restaurant. (Source: Holland America via Cruise Industry News)
Wrap-up: That’s all for this week’s roundup of chef news and goodies. Which story grabbed your attention the most? 
Feel free to share your thoughts, reactions, or any other cool news we missed in the comments. Let’s keep the conversation cooking! Until next week, keep those knives sharp and your passion simmering. Happy cooking, everyone! 
