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Updated on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at 5 p.m.
West Virginia Chef Paul Smith was named the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef: Southeast Monday night at the awards ceremony in Chicago.
Smith, who last year became the foundation’s first ever finalist from West Virginia, took top honors in this year’s star-studded ceremony at the Lyric Opera.
“Two words that have never been mentioned here before: West Virginia,” Smith said in his acceptance speech.
A crowd of hundreds watching a live stream of the event at Charleston’s Capitol Market erupted in prolonged cheers as a presenter told the audience, “He grew up in West Virginia literally standing on a milk crate stirring his grandfather’s Sunday sauce. Today at his restaurant, he tells the Appalachian food story. Paul Smith is … he’s a hometown hero, he really is.”
Tourism Secretary Chelsea Ruby, in the Capitol Market crowd, said the win puts West Virginia on the map as a culinary destination.
“It puts us on the map. When you think about culinary destinations, this absolutely puts us on the map,” Ruby said. “It’s one more thing that gives people at a national level the idea that West Virginia is a destination.”
Gov. Jim Justice said in a Facebook post that the award “attracts visitors from around the world to experience the taste of Almost Heaven.”
The Southeast category in which Smith won includes Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.
**Editor’s Note: This story was updated to include comments from Tourism Secretary Chelsea Ruby and Gov. Jim Justice.
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Appalachia is home to many types of music: Old-time and bluegrass, of course, but also rock and hip hop, Americana and jazz, metal and hardcore — and dungeon synth. In fact, that genre, which spun out of black metal, will be showcased outside Whitesburg, Kentucky this weekend, June 13 and 14, at Appalachian Dungeon Fest.
Continue Reading Take Me to More NewsThis week, some of the stories on our show inspired college student art — including a vivid image of a bear smashing a clarinet. Also, a Hare Krishna community in West Virginia serves vegetarian food made in three sacred kitchens. And, COVID-19 exposed the contempt society has for marginalized people. One author says, these folks are anything but passive.
Continue Reading Take Me to More NewsThe Nelsonville Music Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. The Ohio-based festival over the years has hosted American music icons, like John Prine, Willie Nelson and Loretta Lynn, while also supporting regional artists. Inside Appalachia’s Abby Neff spoke with festival founder Tim Peacock to learn more.
Continue Reading Take Me to More NewsWhile baseball fields are run of the mill in most communities, there’s a certain type of diamond that’s less common: it’s called a “Miracle Field.” There are three of these in West Virginia – in Morgantown, Wheeling and Green River. These are accessible baseball facilities that can accommodate players with disabilities.
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