Just in case you haven’t heard the very big news, Food & Wine named Jonathon Sawyer, chef/owner of The Greenhouse Tavern, one of the 10 best new chefs in the country.
While the official announcement came yesterday, people were already guessing Sawyer thanks to F&W editor Dana Cowin, who was dropping hints via Twitter (like Midwestern eco-home). Amelia, the other half of team Sawyer, shared awhile ago that they’d have good news to share soon, but kept a very tight lip and wouldn’t spill the beans, even after repeated attempts to get her to (even alcohol wouldn’t work!). I was guessing a lot of things, but this is much, much better.
This recognition is a huge honor for a young chef and often serves as a predictor of future success (enter Michael Symon, F&W BNF recipient 1998). To qualify, the magazine states you have to be running a kitchen for less than five years.
Congratulations to Jonathon, Amelia and the entire Greenhouse team. This is so very well-deserved and I couldn’t be more excited for them. They are good people and good friends and have worked very hard for this – and we’re the lucky ones that get to enjoy their hard work and success whenever we’d like. This isn’t just great for them, it’s great for Cleveland!
The remaining 9 best new chefs include:
Roy Choi, Kogi BBQ truck, Los Angeles
Matt Lightner, Castagna, Portland, OR
Clayton Miller, Trummer’s on Main, Clifton, VA
Missy Robbins, A Voce, New York City
Alex Seidel, Fruition, Denver
Mike Sheerin, Blackbird, Chicago (love this restaurant – and Koren Grieveson, Avec, won last year – both Paul Kahn restaurants, who is a previous winner himself)
John Shields, Town House, Chilhowie, VA
Jason Stratton, Spinasse, Seattle, WA
James Syhabout, Commis, Oakland, CA
Also, F&W launched a Best New Chefs app yesterday which goes back to the beginning – 1988.
