Two Kentucky chefs are finalists for one of the biggest honors in dining
Two Kentucky chefs were included among the finalists for the 2025 James Beard Awards, considered one of the biggest honors in the restaurant industry.
Paducah chef Sara Bradley of Freight House and Louisville’s Noam Bilitzer of MeeshMeesh Mediterranean are two of five restaurants up for “Best Chef: Southeast.” They were nominated from a list of 20.
Winners will be announced June 16 in Chicago. The James Beard Awards are in their 35th year of “honoring culinary excellence and shaping the evolution of American food culture,” according to a press release.
“I’m ecstatic,” said Bradley in a statement. “This is a tremendous honor and I’m grateful for the team at Freight House — this recognizes all their hard work, too. I’m also hopeful this will encourage more people to explore Paducah and all we have to offer.”
Bradley is known for her runner-up finish on “Top Chef: Kentucky” in 2019 and she appeared on Food Network’s competition series, “Tournament of Champions VI.”
Last year, Yelp tapped MeeshMeesh Mediterranean as one of the Best News Restaurants of 2024. In an interview with the Courier Journal, Bilitzer said he was “speechless” about the James Beard recognition.
“We don’t get here without our team, guests who support us, and my right hand man and chef de Cuisine Alex Hamrick. We’re really excited for what’s to come.”
The other finalists in the Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV) category include:
- Jake Howell, Peninsula, Nashville
- Silver Iocovozzi, Neng Jr.’s, Asheville, N.C.
- Robbie Robinson, City Limits Barbeque, West Columbia, S.C.
Two other Kentucky spots were named 2025 semifinalists but did not make it to the final round. Ouita Michel’s Holly Hill Inn in Midway was up for “Outstanding Hospitality” and Bardstown’s The Bar at Willett was a semifinalist in the “Outstanding Bar” category.
This story was originally published April 3, 2025 at 11:30 AM.
