2013 James Beard Awards Go to Two Orlando Restaurant Chef-Owners

- Michelle Snow
Kelly (L.) and Lagasse (R.)
Kelly (L.) and Lagasse (R.)

On May 6, the 2013 James Beard Foundation Awards were announced and two of the winners have restaurants in the Orlando area.

Melissa Kelly won Best Chef: Northeast for her PRIMO restaurant in Rockland, Maine. She also owns PRIMO at the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes.

Emeril Lagasse received the Humanitarian of the Year award for his work with the New Orleans-based Emeril Lagasse Foundation. He owns both Emeril’s Orlando at Universal Orlando CityWalk, and Emeril’s Tchoup Chop at Universal’s Loews Royal Pacific Resort.

The James Beard Awards are like the Grammys of the restaurant industry, so this is a big honor for those who received the awards.

About Michelle Snow

Michelle is the owner and editor of CitySurfing Orlando. She also owns Zengrrl.com, is a freelance writer specializing in travel and entertainment, and has authored/co-authored four guidebooks on Orlando and Florida. She lives in Orlando near Disney, and hears Magic Kingdom fireworks every night.
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