James Beard Awards Cancels Chef and Restaurant Awards for 2020 | Eater
"A California restaurant led by Chef David Kinch that was recognized as a finalist in the 2020 James Beard Awards, with Kinch nominated in the Outstanding Chef category; he subsequently withdrew his name, saying accepting awards “simply does not feel right in the midst of an ongoing pandemic” given the devastation faced by the restaurant industry. The venue’s potential honor was further affected by the James Beard Foundation’s decision not to announce 2020 (and also 2021) winners, a move the Foundation framed as necessary because the usual benefits of awards could not be fully realized amid widespread closures and upheaval." - Monica Burton
