The Strip in Las Vegas is making a notable comeback in the culinary scene, with three food and beverage professionals from the area being named finalists in the 2025 James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards. This recognition is significant, as it marks a change from recent years when Strip restaurants and professionals were largely absent from the finalist lists.
The finalists include Sarah Thompson from Casa Playa at Wynn Las Vegas and Eleazar Villanueva from Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand, both competing in the Best Chef: Southwest category. Additionally, Cristie Norman, the lead sommelier at Delilah in Wynn, has been recognized as a finalist for the national Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service category.
This is a departure from previous years when only one Strip professional, chef Yip Cheung of Red Plate at The Cosmopolitan, reached the semifinalist stage in 2023. Other semifinalists from Las Vegas, such as Chef DJ Flores of Milpa and Michael Vakneen of Double Zero Pie & Pub, did not advance to the finals this year.
The winners will be announced on June 16 during a ceremony at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, with an expected attendance of over 2,000 people. This event marks the 35th anniversary of the James Beard Awards, often regarded as the Oscars of the food industry.
