Two Virginia restaurants are among the 2025 Restaurant and Chef Award semifinalists for the James Beard Awards® presented by Capital One. Nominees will be announced on Wednesday, April 2, and winners will be announced at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on Monday, June 16 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the James Beard Awards®. Considered to be among the nation’s most prestigious honors, the James Beard Awards® recognize exceptional talent in the culinary and food media industries, as well as a demonstrated commitment to equity, sustainability, and creating a culture where all can thrive.
The two Virginia nominees are:
Maude & The Bear, a restaurant and inn in Staunton, Va. (about a 2.5-hour drive from Alexandria) is nominated in the Best New Restaurant category. Restaurants are eligible if they opened between Oct. 1, 2023, through Sept. 30, 2024, that already demonstrates excellence in cuisine, seems likely to make a significant impact in years to come, and demonstrates consistent excellence in food, atmosphere, hospitality, and operations. Those establishments that have opened after September 30, 2024, can be considered for the 2026 Awards.
Photo courtesy of Maude & the Bear
A dish from Maude & the Bear in Staunton, Va., a semifinalist for a 2025 James Beard Award
Here's more about Maude & the Bear from its website:
Maude & the Bear, a story-book 1926 Montgomery Ward kit house, has been whimsically re-created as a modern restaurant and inn. The restaurant at Maude & the Bear serves a tasting menu Thursday through Saturday by reservation, as well as a multi-course breakfast for our inn guests only.
Chef Ian Boden started his career in a small family-owned bistro just outside of Washington DC. After college, Ian moved to New York City, working at several prominent restaurants that you may never have heard of. Ready for a change, he moved back to Virginia where he opened a few restaurants, most notably The Shack, which received national acclaim. Ian has been nominated twice for Best Chef Mid-Atlantic by the James Beard Foundation.
In the second 2025 nomination in Virginia, in the Best Chef (Mid-Atlantic) category, is Chef
Image courtesy of Tremolo
Tremolo is located in Middleburg, Va.
Jarad Slipp, of Tremolo in Middleburg, Va. The restaurant is located at 19 E. Washington St. in Middleburg. Hours are Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. The restaurant is about an hour and 15-minute drive from Alexandria.
Here's a bit more information about the chef and his eatery, from its website:
Tremolo is the creation of Jarad Slipp, who brings his expertise in food and wine to this latest venture. Jarad has worked at Michelin-starred restaurants around the world, including Casa Vissani in Italy, Gordon Ramsay in London, Fiamma in New York City, and CityZen in Washington DC.
Most recently, he was the Estate Director at world-class vineyard RdV. After years in the hospitality industry, Jarad was eager to build Tremolo according to his own vision, creating a dining experience that is both refined and down to earth, with a menu that is elevated but unpretentious. Jarad is a classically trained chef, with degrees from the Culinary Institute of America and ICIF in Italy, and a Master Sommelier, a distinction granted to only 275 people in the world. He also owns Knead Wine, just down the street in Middleburg and also Purcellville.
The James Beard Foundation (JBF) is a 501(c)3 organization that celebrates and supports the people behind America’s food culture, while pushing for new standards in the restaurant industry to create a future where all have the opportunity to thrive. Established over 30 years ago, the Foundation has highlighted the centrality of food culture in our daily lives and is committed to supporting a resilient and flourishing industry that honors its diverse communities.
