James Beard Awards make history with first Indigenous woman winner: See full winners list

The James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards announced its 2023 winners, including some groundbreaking firsts for the annual ceremony, often called the Oscars of the food world.

Sherry Pocknett became the first Indigenous woman to win a James Beard Award, triumphing in the Best Chef: Northeast category. Pocknett is from Sly Fox Den Too, a restaurant in Charlestown, Rhode Island, specializing in Native American cuisine.

Pocknett wore traditional Native American attire as she accepted her trophy onstage.

“I have cancer," she said in her speech, fighting back tears. "I’m sure I'm not the only one in the room that does, but I’m almost through it. This honor is just unbelievable. Something that I never even dreamed of. Thank you."

Natalia Vallejo from the restaurant Cocina al Fondo in San Juan, Puerto Rico, also made James Beard Awards history with her win for Outstanding Chef: South. Her win clinched the first James Beard Award for Puerto Rico.

Here's who else won big at the ceremony, held Monday night at the Lyric Opera of Chicago:

More: James Beard list of chef and restaurant semifinalists is out. Did your favorite make the cut?

Who won at the James Beard Awards 2023?

• Outstanding Chef: Rob Rubba, Oyster Oyster, Washington, D.C.

• Outstanding Restaurant: Friday Saturday Sunday, Philadelphia

• Best New Restaurant: Kann, Portland, Oregon

• Outstanding Restaurateur Ellen Yin, High Street Hospitality Group (Fork, a.kitchen + bar, High Street Philly, and others), Philadelphia

• Outstanding Hospitality: The Quarry, Monson, Maine

• Emerging Chef: Damarr Brown, Virtue, Chicago

• Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker: Margarita Manzke, République, Los Angeles

• Outstanding Bakery: Yoli Tortilleria, Kansas City, Missouri

• Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program: Ototo, Los Angeles

• Outstanding Bar: Bar Leather Apron, Honolulu

• Best Chef: Midwest: Itaru Nagano and Andrew Kroeger, Fairchild, Madison, Wisconsin

• Best Chef: Mountain: Kris Komori, KIN, Boise, Idaho

• Best Chef: South: Natalia Vallejo, Cocina al Fondo, San Juan, Puerto Rico

• Best Chef: Northeast: Sherry Pocknett, Sly Fox Den Too, Charlestown, Rhode Island

• Best Chef: Southwest: Andrew Black, Grey Sweater, Oklahoma City

• Best Chef: Southeast: Terry Koval, The Deer and the Dove, Decatur, Georgia

• Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic: Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon, Kalaya, Philadelphia

• Best Chef: New York State: Junghyun Park, Atomix, New York

• Best Chef: California: Justin Pichetrungsi, Anajak Thai, Sherman Oaks, California

• Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific: Vince Nguyen, Berlu, Portland, Oregon

• Best Chef: Texas: Benchawan Jabthong Painter, Street to Kitchen, Houston, Texas

• Best Chef: Great Lakes: Tim Flores and Genie Kwon, Kasama, Chicago

What are the James Beard Awards?

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The awards recognize "exceptional talent in the culinary and food media industries, as well as a demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive," the organization said in a release in January.

The list of semifinalists, which came out in January, included dozens of chefs and restaurants from across the country in 23 categories. Nominees in the national and regional categories ran the gamut from established chefs and fine-dining restaurants to newcomers and mom-and-pops. A new category, outstanding bakery, was added this year. Finalists were revealed on March 29.

Contributing: Morgan Hines

See inmates find hope in a kitchen The Detroit Free Press' Coldwater Kitchen won best documentary at the 2023 James Beard Media Awards

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: James Beard award winners list: Sherry Pocknett makes history and more