On June 15, 2026, Las Vegas was recognized with its first James Beard Foundation Best Chef award in almost two decades. Casa Playa chef Sarah Thompson took home the 2026 James Beard Awards Best Chef: Southwest. It’s a massive win for the celebrated chef, her restaurant, and for the City of Las Vegas; the last time Las Vegas won in this category was when Saipin Chutima of Lotus of Siam won the same category in 2011. When accepting the award, Thompson said to the audience, “It’s been awhile since Vegas has been up here, and it’s great to be representing our city.” Casa Playa debuted at the Encore Las Vegas in 2021, replacing the former Elio, which closed in 2020. Thompson was Elio’s chef de cuisine, and before that worked as an executive sous chef at New York’s Cosme under the Mexican-born chef Daniela Soto-Innes, who is the youngest chef to be named World’s Best Female Chef by the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. At Casa Playa, Thompson shaped her own menu, while Wynn resort mixologist Mariena Mercer Boarini created the drinks program and former assistant general manager and agave expert Noah Arenstein curated an expansive mezcal and tequila collection. Thompson’s…
Source: Eater Vegas
