Damarr Brown has been cooking for 13+ years, and can now add an incredible accolade to his already impressive list: Best Emerging Chef. The prestigious James Beard Awards, often considered the ‘Oscars’ of the food world, celebrated Brown’s skills as a chef, Virtue Restaurant, and the delicious ‘hearty southern cooking’ served at the Hyde Park spot.
Brown is an already locally celebrated chef, once studying under incredible mentors like Virtue Restaurant owner-chef Erick Williams. The latest spotlight gives Brown a new stage, along with the distinction of being named a talented chef to watch, Brown’s also now known as the best ‘newcomer’ in the Chicago area.
This isn’t his first time on a main stage: He also placed 4th on the nationally acclaimed tv show Top Chef last year!
The James Beard Awards are a big deal with a series of events, like dinner on Wrigley Field surrounding the lauded Sunday ceremony.
The Best Emerging Chef category highlights the chef most likely to make a ‘significant impact’ in the following years. It’s basically co-signing their rise to fame and Damarr Brown’s genuine American Southern cuisine earned the top accolade this year!
Virtue was also honored at the ceremony last year, with executive Chef Erick Williams taking home an award for Best Regional Chef.
Two other Chicago-based winners took home a prestigious award at this year’s 2023 ceremony as well, with the honor of the Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH) category going to Tim Flores and Genie Kwon, of Kasama.
Their Michelin-starred Filipino restaurant and bakery pay tribute to Filipino dishes, drawing inspiration from Flore’s mom’s cooking.
Surely Virtue in Hyde Park is about to be packed to the brim following this incredible accomplishment but you can still try to book a reservation here. Congratulations, Chefs!
Address: Virtue Restaurant 1462 E. 53rd St., Chicago, IL 60615