A Peruvian chef and an Indian restaurant in Miami are among the best in the country
A beloved Miami chef and one of the city’s favorite restaurants have been nominated for some of the top awards in the food industry.
The James Beard Foundation, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, has announced its 2025 semifinalists for the annual Restaurant and Chef Awards. Created in 1990, the awards recognize exceptional talent and achievement in the culinary arts, hospitality, media, and broader food system, and a demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive.
The 2025 nominees include Chef Nando Chang of Itamae Ao for Best Chef: South, a category his sister Chef Val Chang won last year for her work at the Peruvian restaurant Maty’s (she was the first Miami chef in 14 years to win).
Itamae Ao, a 10-seat omakase counter that offers a tasting menu, is located in the back of Maty’s in Midtown Miami. It’s the new version of the Changs’ former Design District spot Itamae, which closed in 2023, and was also just added to the Michelin Guide for 2025.
Chang , who laughingly admits he’s not sure a member of his family could win this award two years in a row, said the nomination is a reward in itself. As always, he credits his family, which includes his father Fernando Chang, who brought Nando and Val to the U.S. from Peru.
“Closing the last Itamae, which was a beloved location but a struggle financially and accepting that when I reopened it wouldn’t be done in the same way, was nerve-racking,” he said. “Now I’m happy to be nominated. I feel like my peers respect the work, and that makes me happy. . . . . I’m starting to feel part of the change Miami is going through, and that’s all my dad ever wanted, that we live out our dreams.”
Also nominated was Ghee Indian Kitchen from Chef Niven Patel and business partner Mohamed Alkassar of Feal Hospitality. The Indian restaurant, which has a location in Kendall and a new, more glamorous spot in Wynwood, was nominated in the category of Outstanding Restaurant.
Patel, also the force behind Paya on Miami Beach and Erba in Coral Gables, said he was humbled by the recognition.
“I’m fortunate to be able to do my part in placing Indian cuisine on the national map,” he said. “And I’m just happy I get to do it my way. Ghee is where it all started, so this is really full circle for us.”
Alkassar said the nomination was “a boost for all of us at Feal Hospitality.”
“The longevity of a restaurant is the most difficult part of the journey,” he said. “I’m proud to see Ghee more relevant than ever.”
Miami had no nominations in the prestigious Outstanding Chef category and none in Emerging Chef or Best New Restaurant. But in the beverage categories, several Miami spots made an appearance. Vice Versa in downtown Miami, which specializes in aperitivos, was nominated for Best New Bar, while Café La Trova in Little Havana was nominated for Outstanding Bar.
The Miami Beach Italian gem Macchialina was nominated in the Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages category, and Allegra Angelo of Vinya Table was nominated as Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service.
Nominees will be announced on April 2, and winners will be announced June 16 at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
This story was originally published January 22, 2025 at 1:01 PM.