Rhodes alumnus Ryan Prewitt received two coveted James Beard Foundation honors at its annual awards gala held May 5 in New York City. He tied for Best Chef: South with another New Orleans chef, and his Peche Seafood Grill in New Orleans was named Best New Restaurant in the country.
The James Beard Foundation is at the center of America′s culinary community, and its awards are the highest honor for food and beverage professionals working in North America. The awards are presented each spring at the Lincoln Center. The Best Chef: South category covers Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Puerto Rico.
After earning a B.A. in English from Rhodes in 1998, Prewitt moved to San Francisco where his interest in food developed into a career. He later moved to New Orleans and worked under the tutelage of chef Donald Link. In 2013, Prewitt and Link with New Orleans chef Stephen Stryjewski opened Peche.
Prewitt maintains Memphis ties and is married to Rhodes alumna Camille Hill-Prewitt ’99.