The James Beard Foundation has announced 2025 awards semifinalists and two Madison restaurateurs are being recognized: Ahan co-owners Jamie and Chuckie Brown-Soukaseume in the category of Best Chef: Midwest.
James Beard Awards, established in 1991, are prestigious U.S. food industry awards, known as the “Oscars of the food world,” and it’s a significant recognition to be selected as a semifinalist.
Jamie Brown-Soukaseume, previously of L’Etoile and the now-closed restaurants Estrellón and Sujeo, was also named Madison Magazine’s 2024 chef of the year. This is Brown-Soukaseume’s second time making the James Beard semifinalist list, previously in the Emerging Chef category, for southeast Asian restaurant Ahan. Brown-Soukaseume and her partner, Chuckie Brown-Soukaseume, first opened the restaurant as a food cart in early 2020. The concept quickly outgrew its food cart as demand for Ahan’s food soared. The Brown-Soukaseumes moved their business into a small kitchen at The Bur Oak for carryout and pick-up in August 2020. Ahan moved again in October 2023 to a space in the historic Madison Candy Co. building on Williamson Street that formerly housed Eldorado Grill, increasing seating capacity from about 12 at The Bur Oak to 100…