CT Chef Recognized Among Finalists For 2025 James Beard Awards

WESTPORT, CT — Brian Lewis of The Cottage in Westport was honored as a finalist at Monday’s James Beard Foundation Awards ceremony at the Lyric Opera in Chicago.

The awards, regarded as the Academy Awards of the U.S. restaurant industry, honor excellence across a range of categories, from fine dining to casual gems.

Chef Lewis, who owns Full House Hospitality Group, was a finalist for Best Chef: Northeast, but lost to Sky Haneul Kim of Gift Horse in Providence, Rhode Island.

— Chef Brian Lewis of The Cottage in Westport. Photo credit: Full House Hospitality Group/The Cottage

The Cottage is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, with a special menu that pay "tribute to the ingredients, people, and moments that have shaped our story over the past ten years," Lewis said in a statement.

Lewis earned an associate degree in occupational studies from The Culinary Institute of America, followed by a bachelor’s degree in food service management from Johnson & Wales University. He apprenticed under Chef Jean Louis Palladin at the Watergate Hotel, Marco Pierre White at The Criterion & Mirabelle, and Chef Eric Ripert at Le Bernardin, among others.

2025 is the 35th anniversary of the prestigious culinary awards that recognize eateries and chefs who create exceptional food, food media content, and better food systems, according to the James Beard Foundation. Awards also recognize a demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive.

This year in celebration of the pivotal anniversary, the 2025 Restaurant and Chef Awards were presented across 25 categories, with an expanded focus on beverages, introducing three new categories: Best New Bar, Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service, and Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service.

Other categories include outstanding restaurateur, outstanding chef, outstanding restaurant, emerging chef, best new restaurant, outstanding bakery, outstanding pastry chef or baker, outstanding hospitality, outstanding wine and other beverages program, outstanding bar and best chef.

Another Westport chef, and another Connecticut restaurant were named semifinalists earlier this year:

• Oyster Club in Mystic was named in the Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program category
• Michelle Greenfield of the Allium Eatery in Westport was named in the Best Chef in the Northeast category