The James Beard Basis introduced the finalists within the chef and restaurant classes for its prestigious culinary awards often known as the “Oscars of the meals world.” Of the 12 semifinalists, Aria is Atlanta’s (and Georgia’s) lone consultant this 12 months, a finalist for Excellent Hospitality.
Final week, Aria chef Gerry Klaskala introduced his retirement from the restaurant business. This consists of stepping down as proprietor and head chef of Aria, the Buckhead restaurant he opened in 2000 inside a transformed home on East Paces Ferry Highway.
Klaskala and his enterprise companions turned the keys to the Buckhead nice eating establishment over to Aria’s long-tenured normal supervisor and sommelier, Andrés Loaiza.
At 17, Klaskala deserted his plans to turn out to be an artist and enrolled in The Culinary Institute of America. Having labored in lodge eating places for a number of years in Boston and Savannah, Klaskala moved to Atlanta in 1987 to turn out to be the opening chef and managing accomplice of the legendary Buckhead Diner. In 1995, Klaskala struck out on his personal, opening Canoe in Vinings, adopted by Aria in Buckhead 5 years later.
Right here, Klaskala cemented his standing as one in all Atlanta’s most revered cooks and remodeled Aria into one of many metropolis’s most celebrated eating places. Aria is a perennial on native and nationwide “finest eating places” lists for Atlanta, garnering quite a few awards and accolades during the last 25 years.
The 2025 nomination from the James Beard Basis turns into a becoming tribute to Klaskala and his ardent dedication to hospitality at Aria.
Associated tales:
• The Busy Bee wins James Beard Basis Award
• 2024 Michelin Information to Atlanta
Offered yearly by the James Beard Basis, the awards cowl a number of classes like Finest Chef: Southeast, Excellent Restaurant, Finest New Restaurant, and Rising Chef.
In 2025, the muse additionally launched three new classes to the awards lineup: Finest New Bar, Excellent Skilled in Beverage Service, and Excellent Skilled in Cocktail Service. Marietta Correct nabbed a semifinalist nod for Finest New Bar, whereas Kursten Berry of Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours grew to become one in all 20 semifinalists for the brand new Excellent Skilled in Cocktail Service class.
Winners are introduced throughout an awards ceremony held stay in Chicago on Monday, June 16.
Excellent Hospitality
Aria, Buckhead (JAMES BEARD FINALIST and shifting ahead to the awards ceremony in Chicago)
Finest New Restaurant
Casa Balam, Decatur (semifinalist)
Finest New Bar
Marietta Correct, Marietta (semifinalist)
Excellent Skilled in Cocktail Service
Kursten Berry, Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours, Blandtown (semifinalist)
Excellent Wine and Different Drinks Program
Lucian Books & Wine, Buckhead (semifinalist)
Finest Chef: Southeast
- Rod Lassiter and Parnass Savang of Talat Market, Summerhill (semifinalist)
- Bruce Logue of BoccaLupo, Inman Park (semifinalist)
- Brian So of Spring, Marietta (semifinalist)
- Fu Li Zhang of LanZhou Ramen, Doraville (semifinalist)
- Brandon Carter and Joseph Harrison of Frequent Thread, Savannah (semifinalist)
Excellent Bar
Lone Wolf Lounge, Savannah (semifinalist)
