QUINCY, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Quincy chef Laurence Louie, owner of the restaurant Rubato, has been named a semifinalist for the 2024 James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Northeast.
The James Beard Foundation presents culinary awards recognizing "exceptional talent and achievement in the culinary arts, hospitality, media, and broader food system, as well as a demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive," explained their website.
Louie opened Rubato in August 2022, and the restaurant draws inspiration from cha chaan tengs, which are food cafes that were popularized in Hong Kong following World War II. The menu combines Cantonese and Hong Kong comfort foods with a Western twist.
Rubato has been recognized for its culinary skills by other groups. Bon Appétit listed Rubato as one of the 24 Best New Restaurants of 2023 across the entire country, and Eater Boston named the restaurant the Best New Restaurant of 2023.
Louie reacted to being named a James Beard semifinalist, saying "it is really rewarding to see [the restaurant] being recognized and other people seeing the value of it as well.”
He added that "to be able to be on this large of a stage and have that recognition is really meaningful.”
Rubato's chef also expressed that awards were not the goal of his culinary endeavors. “I never want to set goals around accolades, but it’s always nice when people see what you’re doing and value it.”
Louie talked about some of the dishes he serves at Rubato and how they fuse together different culinary traditions. “The fried chicken bolo bao, that has become this quick signature. It’s a very good example of this East/West amalgamation.”
And customers' reactions proved the dish's popularity. One of them was there at lunchtime this week to try the signature fried chicken bolo bao after seeing Louie's restaurant on social media.
“I saw this place on Instagram, and I saw that the chef was a renowned chef, and I was like 'I got to try it,'” the customer said.
James Beard Award Finalists will be announced on April 3, and winners will announced at a ceremony in Chicago on June 10.
WBZ’s Kim Tunnicliffe (@KimWBZ) reports.
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