Forty Years of American Food Culture and Storytelling – 2026 James Beard Awards® Panel Discussion

Over the past four decades, food media, awards, and restaurant culture have helped shape how stories about cooking, place, and identity are shared in the United States. This session will look back at the narratives that have come to the forefront, reflect on which voices and experiences may not have been fully seen, and consider what a more expansive storytelling landscape looks like and could continue to evolve in the years ahead. It will also explore how recognition awards in both media and restaurants contribute to our collective understanding of “American food culture”, and how these forms of recognition can highlight the people, places, and systems that have long sustained it.

Moderated by James Beard Award Nominee® Chandra Ram, Journalist and Cookbook Author

Panelists include:

James Beard Award Winner® Bill Addison, Dining Critic, Los Angeles Times 

Jamila Robinson, Editor-in-Chief, Bon Appétit and Epicurious