Jake Howell of Peninsula wins James Beard Award, marking a major culinary milestone for Nashville

Nashville’s dining scene reached a new high this week as Jake Howell, chef and co-owner of Peninsula, was named Best Chef: Southeast at the 2025 James Beard Awards in Chicago. The recognition places Howell among the most elite chefs in the country and marks the first win in nearly a decade for a Nashville-based chef, following Tandy Wilson’s 2016 win for City House.

Image of Jake Howell, Peninsula Nashville

Tucked into a quiet corner of East Nashville, Peninsula has quietly built a national reputation since opening in 2017. Howell, along with partners Craig Schoen and Yuriko Say—who first worked together in Seattle—has developed a restaurant that defies expectations. The 38-seat spot serves a minimalist, ever-evolving menu rooted in the cuisines of the Iberian Peninsula—Spanish, Portuguese, and Basque—elevated with French techniques and a dose of culinary intuition that feels as much improvisational as it is deliberate.

Image of Peninsula Nashville

With only a handful of dishes on the menu at any given time and just three dinner services per week, Peninsula has become one of the city’s most sought-after reservations. Ingredients are often listed without much explanation, inviting diners to trust in the kitchen’s creativity—whether it’s a hauntingly good vegan strawberry broth or one of Schoen’s meticulously crafted gin and tonic pairings.

Image of Peninsula Nashville

Howell’s win was hard-earned, standing out among a strong field of regional finalists including chefs from Asheville, Louisville, West Columbia, and Paducah. For Nashville, the win reaffirms what locals have long known: Peninsula isn’t just one of the city’s best restaurants—it’s one of the South’s most compelling dining experiences, period.