Four Mexican themed film and television productions—two documentary features, and two series—on Mexican cuisine and wine received nominations for the James Beard Award, the annual award presented by the James Beard Foundation to recognize culinary professionals in the United States.
Bernardo Ruiz’s Harvest Season and Elizabeth Carroll’s Diana Kennedy: Nothing Fancy are both nominated in the Documentary category. Harvest Season, which aired on PBS, is a moving portrait of the Mexicans and Mexican-Americans behind California’s multibillion-dollar wine industry, while director Carroll examines the vibrant and unconventional life of Diana Kennedy, widely regarded as the world's leading expert on Mexican cuisine. The film had its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival last year and it will airs on Apple TV and Amazon Prime starting June 19, 2020.
Nominated for Best Television Program, in Studio or Fixed Location is the series Pati's Mexican Table – A Local's Tour of Culiacán. A former policy analyst focused on Latin American politics and history, Pati Jinich is a chef, cooking teacher, food writer and mother of three whose true passion lies in sharing the tastes of her childhood and culinary adventures in her native country. In the nominated episode she visits Culiacán, the capital of the state of Sinaloa. Pati's guide is celebrated chef and culinary ambassador Miguel Taniyama. Miguel gives Pati a local's tour of the best markets, street food stands, and restaurants, meeting friends and family along the way.
Nominated for Best Television Program, on Location is the Netflix series Taco Chronicles / Las Crónicas del Taco – Canasta. The series, created by producer Pablo Cruz is an eye-opening, mouth-watering food adventure that explores some of the many long, rich, little-known histories of the most popular taco styles.
Additionally, the YouTube series Eat, Drink, Share, Puerto Rico Food – El Burén de Lula was nominated in the Online Video, on Location category. El Burén de Lula is one of the most iconic gastronomic experiences in the northeastern coast of Puerto Rico. Its Afro-Puerto Rican cuisine has Taíno's touches and techniques, making it a unique and delicious culinary experiences.
The winners of the 2020 James Beard Awards will be announced on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 by a press release in lieu of a physic ceremony.
