The James Beard Foundation's Ongoing Drama, Explained | Bon Appétit

"An Alabama restaurant run by chef Timothy Hontzas became the center of a high-profile ethics controversy after an anonymous report led to an investigation and his removal from consideration for a national chef award. Allegations included frequent yelling at staff and patrons and, according to a former employee, throwing plates; Hontzas disputes those accounts, pointing to multi-year employee tenure as evidence of a positive workplace. His quiet disqualification—publicized by local reporting before committee members were informed—left him listed as a finalist despite the action, spurring public defenses from fellow chefs and criticism of the foundation’s opaque procedures; one regional committee member resigned in protest over the lack of communication and perceived due-process failures." - ByLi Goldstein