SoCal Restaurateur Named Best Chef In CA By James Beard Awards
The awards, referred to as the "Oscars of the food world," honor excellence across a range of categories, from fine dining to casual gems. SoCal Restaurateur Llera has been named the best chef in California by the James Beard Awards, which are known as the "Oscars of the food world." The awards recognize excellence across a range of categories, from fine dining to casual gems. Lleras, who started Kuya Lord as a pop-up in 2019, brought his Southern Tagalog cuisine to breweries and other locations before expanding into a full kitchen in 2022. The restaurant is inspired by Llerra's regional dishes from his native Philippines. Kuya was named one of the Los Angeles Times' 101 Best Restaurants last year.
Publicerad : 10 månader sedan förbi Chris Lindahl i Lifestyle
The awards, often referred to as the "Oscars of the food world," honor excellence across a range of categories, from fine dining to casual gems. Llera was one of 12 chefs bestowed with state- and region-based honors.
Kuya Lord began as a pop-up in 2019, when Llera brought his take on Southern Tagalog cuisine to breweries and other locations. After the pandemic hit, he converted the garage of his La Cañada Flintridge home into a full kitchen, and began offering weekly food pickups that quickly gained word-of-mouth popularity, according to the restaurant's website. In 2022, Llera opened his 28-seat restaurant in the Melrose Hill area of Hollywood. A self-described elevated fast-casual concept, Kuya Lord's menu is inspired by the regional dishes that Llera grew up eating in Lucena City, a port city in the Philippines' Quezon province.
Kuya Lord was named one of the Los Angeles Times' 101 Best Restaurants last year. "In the afterglow of last decade, which witnessed the brightest-ever spotlight turned on modern Filipino cuisine, Llera had stepped into the arena as a gripping new expressionist," the Times wrote.
The Times recommends several dishes, including the sharable Kuya trays, which include spiced rice, sautéed vegetables, achara (pickled green papaya) and a choice of six meats or seafood. “These remarkable individuals embody the very essence of our Good Food for Good ethos, showcasing exceptional talent, unwavering dedication to their craft, and a steadfast commitment to elevating the industry,” James Beard Foundation CEO Clare Reichenbach said in a news release. “With their passion, skill, and leadership, they are shaping our nation's dining landscape and setting a new standard for culinary excellence.”
Established in 1990, with the first ceremony taking place in 1991, the Restaurant and Chef Awards is one of five separate recognition programs for the foundation’s awards. The 2024 Restaurant and Chef Awards winners are recognized across 22 categories, a complete list can be viewed on the James Beard Foundation's website. Kuya Lord is located at 5003 Melrose Ave. in Hollywood. It's normally open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday, but will be closed for dinner Tuesday, June 11 and completely closed Wednesday, June 12, according to its website.