Orlando heads to Chicago.
The delights of Yount, Jason and Suchin from Orlando’s Good Salt Restaurant Group’s Winter Park have become finalists at the 2025 James Beard Foundation Awards.
“An amazing full circle moment, according to myself and the hospitality team at Johnto and Hive,” said chef Ryan Latino.
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omo was named Best New Restaurant last month at the 2025 Orlando Sentinel Foodie Awards.
“I want to eat at Luma as a 20-year-old self-eating and do it on Park Avenue.
Jason and Sue Chin of Good Salt are moving on to the exiled restaurateur category, but ahead of the June ceremony there are four other finalists with the judges weighing in.
This is the second bite of Chins apple, which won the first semi-finalist nod in 2022.
Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel
Jason and Sue Chine were James Beard’s semi-finals in the standout restaurateur category in 2022. This year they moved to the finalist round, competing with four other candidates for the highest honors. (Orlando Sentinel file)
When Lopez came on the news, Jason Chin had stripped plastic from a new appliance at Sparrow, a new North Square restaurant led by Reyes Mezcareria chef/partner Wendy Lopez, which is set to open soon.
“They came cheering me on and showed me screenshots,” Chin says. “I was in shock. I had to sit down!”
What was lost in the finer points of the restaurant’s opening, an environment worthy of the Chins memo category, he said he didn’t have much time to think about it.
“I don’t own a tuxedo,” he said with a laugh. “I haven’t worn it since my wedding.”
Without a doubt, it is on his to-do list.
Meet the James Beard Award semi-finalists: “This is the time for Orlando’s sparkle.”
“What I’m proud of doesn’t start to explain how I feel today,” read Reyes Mezkarelia’s Instagram post. “A massive congratulations to Sue and Jason for playing the final of the outstanding restaurateurs (sic) at the Beard Foundation Awards.
The Good Salt Restaurant Group portfolio also includes Monroe, Osprey and Sate Sushi Baldwin Park.
Three other top candidates, Johann Le Bescondo, Ocala World Equestrian Centre (category: Outstanding Pastry/Chef Baker), Kaya’s Lord Far Lalicon and Dom’s Sean “Sonny” Nuguen (category: Best Chef: South), were named semi-finalists in January.
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Chin said the news that he has moved to the finalist round is “still crystallized” and that gravity is still calming.
“Take this back to town and bring the James Beard Award home to Orlando will definitely be our most proud moment,” he said. “I’m such an honor. It makes me the most incredible.”
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards, held at Lyric Opera in Chicago on June 16th. Tickets for the ceremony can be purchased at squadup.com/events/2025-james-beard-awards. Local foodies can live stream on Eater at Eater.com/24109165/james-beard-restaurant-and-chef-awards-livestream.
Do you want to reach out to me? Find me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram @Amydroo or the Osfoodie Instagram account @orlando.foodie. Email: amthompson@orlandosentinel.com. Join Let’s Eat, Orlando Facebook Group for more foodie fun.
List of Foodie Award Winners for 2025 revealed – see who won
Original issue: April 2, 2025, 4:11pm EDT
