“Holy Shit!”
With that, and after a long, powerful embrace from her business partner John Morisano, The Grey Executive Chef Mashama Bailey accepted a James Beard Award for 2019. Best Chef: Southeast. The highest culinary honor in America.
“Just to be sitting here amongst you all is amazing.” Mashama continued “I am a black girl from Queens.” she said on stage at the Civic Opera House in Chicago. She went on to thank everyone who has assisted in her journey and nearly the entire staff at The Grey. She even wished her dishwasher a happy birthday from the biggest stage America’s food industry.
That’s Mashama Bailey.
See reaction from Mashama as it happened Monday night here.
Mashama was nominated in both of her years of eligibility. Last year she was a finalist as well. This year she brings Savannah its second James Beard Award for Best Chef. Elizabeth Terry was Savannah’s 1st winner for Elizabeth on 37th back in 1996. In 2000, Selma Wilkes received a James Beard Award for “American Regional Classics” celebrating (at the time) her 50 years of work at Mrs. Wilkes Boarding House.
The Grey opened in December of 2014. Since then they have received several national recognitions and this year were featured on the critically acclaimed Netflix series Chef’s Table.
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