 as foodie destinations to seek out. For North Carolina-based food writer Jenn Rice, Wilmington, North Carolina – 'a port city with a lot of personality' – and Charleston, South Carolina, long a food-lovers' hub, are among the most exciting in the country. Minneapolis, with strong native American roots and large Somali and Vietnamese communities, is also one to consider, according to Capri Cafaro, a former Democratic state senator turned cookbook author. Here's our pick of the 25 best res){kind=link}
Our state-by-state guide reveals the nation’s top menus, from Michelin-star dining in New York to modern Mexican fare in Los Angeles
Each year, the James Beard Awards are handed to America’s top chefs and restaurants, in what has become one of the country’s food industry’s most coveted prizes. In this year’s red carpet event in Chicago, Philadelphia’s Friday Saturday Sunday, an intimate tasting menu restaurant showcasing seasonal ingredients, was named the country’s most outstanding restaurant. While the awards celebrate the pinnacle of culinary delights, the sheer volume of quality restaurants in the United States is unrivalled.
The nation has one of the world’s best dining scenes – it’s a country where you can find almost any cuisine from across the world, at any price point. It is also one of the most forward-thinking, from restaurants showcasing the cuisine of diverse communities to those shining a light on often-marginalised groups.
Farm-to-table dining can be found everywhere, while casual bakeries, cafes and wine bars now cook some of the country’s best menus. Korean, Indian, Middle Eastern and Japanese dining continues to grow apace, while plant-focused menus are thriving.
Good food is no longer centred on New York City and Los Angeles either, and top chefs are increasingly moving to smaller towns. “You see little sprouts around the country, such as the very fine Stissing House in the Hudson Valley,” says Mitchell Davis, a former chief strategy officer at the James Beard Foundation. He sees Washington DC – “which was always a bit of a wasteland for food” – Las Vegas, and both Portlands (Maine and Oregon) as foodie destinations to seek out.