Latest news with #ItamaeAO
Time Out
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
James Beard Award-winning Maty's will have its last service this week
It's been a busy few weeks for the Chang family: Nando Chang of Miami's Itamae AO was the only Florida toque to take home a coveted medal at this year's James Beard Awards, which took place on June 16. Even cooler, he won for Best Chef: South, the same category that his sister, Valerie Chang, won just a year earlier for her own "understated, elegant" cooking at Maty's, the modern Peruvian spot in midtown Miami. And now it looks like there are news-worthy developments happening out of that latter kitchen, albeit of the less celebratory sort: Chang has decided to part ways with Maty's, leaving the future of that acclaimed restaurant up in the air. "After an incredible run, Valerie Chang has decided to end her chapter with Maty's," the restaurant's PR team shared via email to Time Out Miami." Val has found it deeply meaningful to honor her grandmother, the restaurant's namesake, with the Peruvian food of her upbringing, and she is grateful to her Miami community for the support. Maty's, which opened in March 2023, garnered acclaim in Bon Appétit, Condé Nast Traveler, Esquire, and the New York Times." The announcement continued: "Val is currently considering exciting prospects for future projects but we have nothing confirmed just yet to share here." As for the chef herself, Chang shared some feelings on social media about her impending departure, posting on Instagram: "As this chapter comes to an end for me, I want to take this moment to express my deepest gratitude for everyone who has allowed me to cook for them at Maty's over the past two years. We opened this restaurant to honor our grandmother, Maty, in the best way we know how—through food. Thank you to my family, friends and Ron for all the support through out the years, I could've never done this without you guys." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Valerie Chang Cumpa (@chifitachang) Of course, Chang's exit from Maty's means that there are changes afoot not only to that restaurant—as for the future of Maty's, "the Changs are working with their business partners to determine what makes the most sense as a next step in the Maty's space, with the goal of best serving their community," per their PR—but also Itamae's à la carte residency, which has operated in the Maty's space since April. Both Maty's and Itamae will have their final service on Saturday, July 5—reservations are available on Resy if you want to get in before the doors shut. As for Itamae AO, the 10-seat counter spot that served as a sibling spot (in more ways than one) to Maty's next door, Nando Chang and his crew will expand that restaurant's days of operation from Tuesdays to Saturdays beginning on July 8. There will also be new menu additions to look forward to in the coming weeks.
Axios
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Maty's, Midtown's beloved Peruvian restaurant, is closing
Maty's, the acclaimed Midtown Peruvian restaurant, announced Thursday it is closing. Why it matters: In the two years since it opened, the restaurant has rightfully earned its place within Miami's dining scene, securing a spot on Florida's growing list of Michelin Guide restaurants and boasting one of the nation's top chefs. Owner and chef Valerie Chang won the Best Chef: South category at the 33rd annual James Beard Awards last year. What they're saying: "We opened this restaurant to honor our grandmother, Maty, in the best way we know how—through food," Chang wrote on her Instagram. "Our dad showed us very early on that being in the restaurant could give us an opportunity to struggle a little less — that perhaps we weren't bound only by what our parents could give us, but by what we could also make with our own hands." "As this chapter comes to an end for me, I want to take this moment to express my deepest gratitude for everyone who has allowed me to cook for them at Maty's over the past two years," she wrote. Flashback: Chang, her brother Nando Chang (of Itamae AO, also in Midtown) and their father, Fernando, operated the now-closed restaurant Itamae. The trio also earned a James Beard nomination. What's next: No reasons were cited for the closure, but in her post, Chang wrote she was "excited to share what's next! Nos vemos pronto."
Axios
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Miami chef Nando Chang wins James Beard Award
Nando Chang of Itamae AO in Midtown won the Best Chef: South category in the James Beard Awards last night — just one year after his sister, Valerie, won the same award. ViceVersa in Downtown fell short in the Best New Bar category. Why it matters: The James Beard Awards are the Grammys of the food and beverage world. The big picture: Chang's win solidifies Miami as a foodie city with restaurants and talent worth celebrating. Valerie's win last year marked the first time since 2010 a Miami chef took home an award, per the Foundation. What they're saying: "It's pretty surreal," Chang told Axios after winning. "I was fortunate enough to watch my sister win this award last year, but being here in person this year [...] I feel very fortunate. We won back to back, it's pretty cool." "My family and I owe Miami so much," he said. "We're blessed to have been embraced by the community and our hope is that we continue to have a space to further grow our culture."
Time Out
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
This Miami chef took home a James Beard Award last night, just a year after his sister won
If you needed extra proof that culinary bonafides run in the Chang family, last night you got it. At the 35th annual James Beard Foundation awards—which were held on Monday, June 16 at the Lyric Opera in Chicago—Nando Chang of Itamae AO took home the coveted medal in the Best Chef: South category, following closely in the footsteps of his sister Valerie, who won the exact same award a year earlier for her own acclaimed kitchen work over at Maty's. The Chang siblings, as well as their father Fernando, opened the first iteration of Itamae in 2018, when it was a mere food counter at the then-St. Roch Market (now known as MIA Market) in the Design District. The original counter—which served Nikkei cuisine, a delicious fusion of Peruvian and Japanese food—eventually grew into a standalone restaurant across the Palm Court, before it closed in 2023 so both Nando and Valerie could work on their own solo concepts. For Valerie, that was Maty's, a Peruvian charmer named for their grandmother and for Nando, Itamae AO, a 10-seat omakase counter directly connected to its sister restaurant (literally) that turns out a beautiful and beguiling tasting menu of Japanese-Peruvian bites. Nando's refined reimaginings earned the Miami restaurant its first-ever Michelin star earlier this year, so the James Beard sparkler is simply another glorious garnish on top of one tasty year. Itamae AO was one of two Miami-based finalists among this year's James Beard nominees, with ViceVersa—the aperitivo bar off the lobby of the Elser Hotel in downtown Miami—being recognized in the Best New Bar category. Alas, that local haunt was ultimately beat out by Identidad Cocktail Bar in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Prior to Valerie Chang's 2024 victory in the Best Chef: South category, and her bro's subsequent win a year after, a Miami-based chef hadn't taken home a James Beard Award since all the way back in 2010. Along with the Miami nods, Florida also saw two other finalists this year: Sue Chin and Jason Chin of Orlando's Good Salt Restaurant Group (Seito Sushi, Reyes Mezcaleria, The Osprey, and others) in the Outstanding Restaurateur category, and Winter Park's Ômo by Jônt in the Best New Restaurant category. Congrats to all of our Florida winners and finalists!
Eater
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
Miami's Own Chef Nando Chang of Itamae AO Gets a James Beard Award
Chef Nando Chang of Itamae AO in Miami has received the prestigious James Beard Award in the category of Best Chef: South. The chef from the Nikkei cuisine restaurant-in-a-restaurant was one of two nominees for the city (Italian cocktail destination ViceVersa was nominated in the Best New Bar category, though it went to Identidad Cocktail Bar in Puerto Rico), alongside two other Florida finalists that did not ultimately take home awards. Tasting menu-centric Itamae AO's Chang won over such nominees as both Matthew Cooper from Confier and Rafael Rios from Yeo's El Alma de Mexico in Bentonville, Ar.; and both Kevin Garcia from La Faena AgroCocina and Angel David Moreno Zayas from Ell Gallo Pinto in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. Overall, it was an exciting night for the industry, where the awards paid tribute to standout destinations across the country, including New York's Jungsik Yim of Jungsik as Outstanding Chef across the nation, and Boulder, Colo.'s Frasca Food and Wine for Outstanding Restaurant. A full list of winners is available here. See More:
