Want to eat at a James Beard Award-winning restaurant? One is closer than you think
The 2023 James Beard Awards list announced Monday are full of restaurants most likely to be at the top of everyone's "must-try" list, and while there are no Louisville or Kentucky spots honored this time around, a taste of this year's culinary greatness is less than two hours away.
Previously announced in February, six eateries won an America's Classics award, including Wagner's Village Inn in Oldenburg, Indiana.
According to the James Beard Foundation's website, the America's Classics award is given to locally-owned eateries “that have timeless appeal and are beloved regionally for quality food that reflects the character of its community.”
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Located at 22171 Main Street in Oldenburg, Wagner's Village Inn first opened in 1966 and is known for their fried chicken from a 14" cast iron skillet — one of the oldest known forms of frying chicken.
“The elements of the fried chicken at Wagner's are as unpretentious as the wood-paneled dining room: chicken, salt, pepper, flour, lard. There is no recipe,” the foundation wrote. “The gentle heat of the pepper pairs well with the farmhouse fixings that make up a family-style dinner: coleslaw, green beans, and mashed potatoes with gravy.”
On the menu, customers can expect to find pan-fried chicken fit for a full family, "Nashville hot" pan-fried chicken; chicken, pork or cod fish sandwiches; or seafood and pork entrees.
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James Beard Foundation CEO Clare Reichenbach said it was an honor to celebrate this year's inspiring group of culinary storytellers who will have a lasting impact.
“Similar to the uniting power of food, these winners have connected and captivated us through their words across history, people, and place," she said in a news release. "Thank you for continuing to spotlight the significance of the restaurant industry and food culture in our daily lives through your phenomenal work.”
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A full list of 2023 James Beard Award winners
Outstanding Chef: Rob Rubba, Oyster Oyster, Washington, D.C.
Outstanding Restaurant: Friday Saturday Sunday, Philadelphia, PA
Best New Restaurant: Kann, Portland, OR
Outstanding Restaurateur: Ellen Yin, High Street Hospitality Group (Fork, a.kitchen + bar, High Street Philly, and others), Philadelphia, PA
Outstanding Hospitality: The Quarry, Monson, ME
Emerging Chef: Damarr Brown, Virtue, Chicago, IL
Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker: Margarita Manzke, République, Los Angeles, CA
Outstanding Bakery: Yoli Tortilleria, Kansas City, MO
Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program: Ototo, Los Angeles, CA
Outstanding Bar: Bar Leather Apron, Honolulu, HI
Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI): Itaru Nagano and Andrew Kroeger, Fairchild, Madison, WI
Best Chef: Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY): Kris Komori, KIN, Boise, ID
Best Chef: South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS, PR): Natalia Vallejo, Cocina al Fondo, San Juan, PR
Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT): Sherry Pocknett, Sly Fox Den Too, Charlestown, RI
Best Chef: Southwest (AZ, NM, NV, OK): Andrew Black, Grey Sweater, Oklahoma City, OK
Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV): Terry Koval, The Deer and the Dove, Decatur, GA
Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA): Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon, Kalaya, Philadelphia, PA
Best Chef: New York State: Junghyun Park, Atomix, New York, NY
Best Chef: California: Justin Pichetrungsi, Anajak Thai, Sherman Oaks, CA
Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA): Vince Nguyen, Berlu, Portland, OR
Best Chef: Texas: Benchawan Jabthong Painter, Street to Kitchen, Houston, TX
Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH): Tim Flores and Genie Kwon, Kasama, Chicago, IL
Joe’s Bakery & Coffee Shop, Austin, Texas
La Casita Blanca, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Manago Hotel, Captain Cook, Hawai‘i
Nezinscot Farm, Turner, Maine
Pekin Noodle Parlor, Butte, Montana
Wagner’s Village Inn, Oldenburg, Indiana
2023 James Beard Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award: Madhur Jaffrey CBE
2023 James Beard Foundation Humanitarian of the Year: Olivia Watkins and Karen Washington
2023 Leadership Awards: Jim Embry (Sustainable Communities Network, Slow Food USA, and Ujamaa Cooperative Farming Alliance); Valerie Horn (CANE Kitchen, Cowan Community Center, and City of Whitesburg Farmers Market); Savonala “Savi” Horne (Land Loss Prevention Project); Ira Wallace (Southern Exposure Seed Exchange); Rowen White (Sierra Seeds); Emerging Leadership: The Burgerville Workers Union
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Wagner's Village Inn has James Beard-worthy fare for short drive
