"Hidden Gems Emerge: Small-Town Restaurants Vie for Prestigious James Beard Awards In a culinary world often dominated by big-city eateries, a new crop of restaurants in unexpected locations is vying for the top honors in the food industry. The James Beard Awards, considered the Oscars of the culinary world, have traditionally been associated with high-end restaurants in metropolitan areas. However, a growing number of talented chefs and restaurateurs in small towns across the country are challenging this notion, serving up innovative, farm-to-table cuisine that's garnering national attention. From rural towns in the Midwest to coastal communities in the South, these underdog restaurants are proving that great food can be found in the unlikeliest of places."
You might think you have to travel to big cities to find the types of places associated with James Beard awards, but some restaurants are in unlikely places.
