West Hartford Restaurant Nominated For 2023 James Beard Award

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Connecticut has just one restaurant nominated for a national 2023 James Beard Award, and it's in West Hartford.

Coracora, a second-generation family-run eatery was nominated nationally for "Outstanding Restaurant."

The culinary scene in Connecticut is well-represented in the 2023 Restaurant and Chef Awards nominees announced Wednesday. In addition to the Shield Street restaurant specializing in Peruvian cuisine, the James Beard Foundation named nominated two Connecticut chefs to be among the best in the Northeast region: Christian Hunter at Community Table in New Preston, and Renee Touponce at The Port of Call in Mystic.

The James Beard Awards, first presented in 1991, recognize exceptional talent in the culinary and food media industries and are often regarded as the “Oscars of culinary arts.” They recognize a range of experiences, from fine-dining restaurants to casual gems, in 23 categories.

Winners will be announced June 5 in a ceremony at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.