UPDATE (9:07 p.m. on June 10, 2024) — Chef Paul Smith of 1010 Bridge has won the James Beard Award.

He was up against four other renowned chefs from Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) — Monday night is a big night for a popular Charleston chef and the whole event will play out on a national stage. This promises to be a rather tasty evening in more ways than one!

For the second year, Chef Paul Smith of 1010 Bridge is a finalist for the prestigious “James Beard Award.” They’re like the “Oscars” for the restaurant industry.

Chef Paul also owns “The Pitch” and “Ellen’s Ice Cream.” He’s been a chef all over the country but hopes to bring the trophy home to his native West Virginia.

“Not only is this a dream come true, actually it is exceeding my dreams because I never thought I would be a James Beard nominee. But you know to be in Asheville, to be in Napa, to be in Vero Beach, and New York City, but to do it here in West Virginia is beyond my wildest dreams,” said Chef Paul Smith, a James Beard Award Finalist, for Best Chef in the Southeast.

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There’s going to be a watch party at Capitol Market Monday night, with a live stream of the awards ceremony from Chicago from 6 to 9 p.m.

Aside from the two nominations for Chef Caul, last year Laury’s restaurant in Charleston was also nominated. Those mark the only three West Virginia nominations in the history of the prestigious James Beard Awards.

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