🏆 James Beard Awards: Dooky Chase's Restaurant was honored with one of the foundation's most prestigious awards last night — America's Classic. Our colleagues at Axios Chicago have more highlights from the so-called Oscars of the food world.

Chefs and restaurants were honored on Monday night with James Beard Awards, one of the US culinary community’s highest accolades.

Naiker is new to the James Beard Awards, as this is his first nomination, and it landed him in the finals for the Emerging Chef category. He was born in Fiji and raised in California's Bay Area. He has his residency at 51 Courtland St. within the speakeasy, The Courtland Club. His kitchen is barely larger than a closet, but he makes magic there.