Indian Eatery ‘Chai Pani’ In North Carolina Named Best Restaurant In US

The awards come at a time when Americans are paying the highest prices for food in four decades amid surging inflation that is threatening the broader economy.

New Delhi:  Chai Pani, which offers affordable Indian street food in North Carolina, has topped the list of best restaurants in the US. The Asheville eatery has been honoured as the America's most Outstanding Restaurant at the James Beard Foundation Awards in Chicago on Monday ahead of nominees such as Brennan's in New Orleans, reported Bloomberg. The awards have been named after almost two years since it got canceled in 2020 and 2021. The awards announced after a long gap aimed to remove systemic bias amid lockdown due to Covid-19 virus that forced the temporary closure of many US restaurants.

In fact, the awards come at a time when Americans are paying the highest prices for food in four decades amid surging inflation that is threatening the broader economy.

Chai Pani, whose name literally translates to tea and water offers a wide menu including popular Indian snacks "chaat" that are known for a mix of spicy, sweet and tangy flavors. Other winners included the Native American restaurant Owamni in Minneapolis, where the staff is 75 per cent indigenous, as Best New Restaurant.

The Outstanding award in bakery went to Don Guerra at Barrio Bread in Tucson, Arizona for his recipes in which he uses ancient grains that have seeds adapted to grow in the desert. Mashama Bailey of The Grey in Savannah, Georgia, was awarded Outstanding Chef Chris Bianco of Tratto, Pane Bianco and Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix was named Outstanding Restaurateur.

Dawn Padmore, vice president of awards, noted that the foundation did a ‘deep dive’ on itself during its hiatus. "Looking at the audience and seeing so many different people, it feels different," she said. "It's about reflecting the true diversity of the industry."

See the full list of winners below.

Outstanding Restaurant: Chai Pani, Asheville, North Carolina

Outstanding Chef: Mashama Bailey, The Grey, Savannah, Georgia

Best New Restaurant: Owamni, Minneapolis

Outstanding Restaurateur: Chris Bianco, Tratto, Pane Bianco and Pizzeria Bianco, Phoenix

Emerging Chef: Edgar Rico, Nixta Taqueria, Austin, Texas

Outstanding Baker: Don Guerra, Barrio Bread, Tucson, Arizona

Outstanding Pastry Chef: Warda Bouguettaya, Warda Pâtisserie in Detroit

Outstanding Wine Program: The Four Horsemen, New York

Outstanding Bar Program: Julep, Houston

Outstanding Hospitality: Cúrate, Asheville, North Carolina