An Orlando sushi chef nominated for a James Beard Award came up just short in his bid to claim the title of Best Chef in the South.
On Monday, the James Beard Foundation announced its 2023 Restaurant and Chef Awards winners. Nominations for the awards were announced in March, with chef Henry Moso among the finalists. Moso is the head chef and owner of Kabooki Sushi in Orlando.
The James Beard Foundation’s Restaurant and Chef Awards are considered among the nation’s most prestigious honors, recognizing exceptional talent in the culinary and food media industries. This year’s Best Chef of the South Award, which recognizes outstanding performance amongst chefs in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, and Puerto Rico, was given to Natalia Vallejo of Cocina al Fondo. Vallejo and her restaurant are based in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Born and raised in Laos, Moso came to the United States when he was 15-years-old and worked at his mothers restaurants in Florida. He opened Kabooki at the age of 22 and currently operates two restaurant locations on East Colonial Drive and Sand Lake Road.
Moso’s achievement follows a year of recognition across the Orlando restaurant scene. Last month, a collection of new restaurants was awarded Bib Gourmand honors and last June, four Orlando restaurants were awarded a Michelin Star.