James Beard Award Finalists 2025: Miami Shines with Two Nominations
The 2025 James Beard Award finalists have been announced, and Miami is making waves with two significant nominations. The prestigious awards, which recognize excellence in the culinary arts, hospitality, media, and the broader food system, will be presented at a ceremony on June 16, 2025, at the Lyric Opera House in Chicago. Here are the finalists representing Miami in two major categories.Â
Best New Bar: ViceVersa
This Italian-inspired aperitivo bar, which opened in summer 2024 in downtown Miami, has quickly become known for its Italian cocktails and neo-Neapolitan pizzas.
Led by renowned bartender Valentino Longo, ViceVersa offers Negroni options like the signature “ViceVersa Negroni” and the “Negroni Sbagliato” made with sparkling Franciacorta.
The food menu is just as impressive, featuring pizzas made with locally sourced flour and freshly stretched mozzarella. New Times named it one of the 7 Best New Bars of 2024, and it’s already making waves in the city’s drink scene.
Best Chef: South Nando Chang, Itamae AO
Miami’s Nando Chang of Itamae AO is a finalist for Best Chef: South, recognized for his innovative Nikkei cuisine, blending Japanese and Peruvian influences. Since rebranding in May 2024, Itamae AO offers an eight-course omakase menu that highlights Miami’s tropical flavors.
This nomination follows the restaurant’s first year and comes nearly a year after his sister, Valerie Chang, won Best Chef: South in 2024 for her work at Maty’s. The Chang family continues to shine in Miami’s culinary scene.
ViceVersa and Itamae AO Miami’s Culinary Excellence on the National Stage
These two nominations showcase Miami’s rise as a hub for innovative dining. Whether enjoying cocktails at ViceVersa or an omakase meal at Itamae AO, these spots are now among the country’s best. With these James Beard nominations, Miami’s chefs and bars are gaining well-deserved national recognition.
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