Beard at the Beach: A Coastal Virginia Celebration of James Beard
By Butch Maier
Coastal Virginia has earned a seat at the national culinary table as Virginia Beach will host the official James Beard Foundation Dinner on Sept. 21 at Zoës Steak + Seafood. This one-night-only culinary experience will bring together some of the region’s most celebrated chefs for an evening showcasing the depth, talent, and story of Coastal Virginia cuisine.
The James Beard Foundation, founded in 1986, represents the gold standard of American culinary excellence, with awards and programming that shape the national food conversation. “A James Beard Foundation dinner is not just a meal—it is a moment,” Virginia Beach Restaurant Association Executive Director Martha Davenport said. “Bringing this experience to Virginia Beach is a powerful declaration that our culinary community has arrived on the national stage. This event will elevate our chefs, drive tourism, and reinforce that what is happening here matters—not just locally, but across the country.”
The event, sponsored by the Virginia Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau, marks the first time a James Beard Foundation dinner will be held in Virginia Beach.
Chef Patrick Evans-Hylton, a food journalist and historian who has provided Virginia culinary coverage for three-plus decades, will host the evening. The event will feature a cocktail reception with hors d’oeuvres and a multi-course menu highlighting the region’s rich culinary heritage prepared by an all-star lineup of chefs from across Coastal Virginia.
“Coastal Virginia cuisine is rooted in history, shaped by the water, and defined by a deep respect for ingredients and place,” Evans-Hylton said. “This dinner is an opportunity to tell the story on a national level, through the creativity of our chefs and the food and foodways that showcase the region as the birthplace of American cuisine.”
Limited tickets will be available, with sales opening this summer through the Virginia Beach Restaurant Association. Exclusive chef receptions will be held in advance of the event.
According to the VBRA, events of this caliber extend far beyond a single night, placing the host city among a select group of culinary destinations.
James Beard Foundation Dinner
When: Monday, Sept. 21
Where: Zoës Steak + Seafood, 713 19th St., Virginia Beach
Tickets: Available on a limited basis this summer through the Virginia Beach Restaurant Association
Butch Maier
