Buncombe County is home to a James Beard Award winner this year.
Taylor Montgomery, co-founder and executive chef of Montgomery Sky Farm in Leicester, was named Best Chef: Southeast on Monday.
The James Beard Awards are among the highest honors in the food and restaurant industry.
Montgomery was a first-time James Beard Awards nominee. Formerly the head chef of Urban Wren in Greenville, S.C., he now operates a unique business model at his 50-acre farm filled with rolling fields of produce. The farm is also home to rescue pigs, capybara and Scottish Highland cattle.
While Montgomery Sky Farm doesn’t offer regular dinner service, it does offer bi-monthly ticketed group dinners and private dining experiences. Meals are typically served as seasonal five-course tasting menus, featuring dishes that have ingredients sourced from and inspired by the farm.
BPR reached out to Montgomery via email and received this auto-reply.
“A decade ago, Montgomery Sky Farm was just a dream planted in the soil. Today, it is because of your support, encouragement, and belief in our mission that we have the incredible honor of representing not one, but two James Beard Award nominations on a national stage,” the email response said. “This moment belongs to every guest, customer, donor, volunteer, supporter, and friend who has walked alongside us on this journey. Thank you for helping us prove that a small regenerative farm in Western North Carolina can make an impact far beyond its fences.”
Montgomery was one of two Asheville-area finalists for this year's James Beard Awards and the only North Carolina chef nominated in the category. Chai Pani Restaurant Group was also nominated as a finalist for Outstanding Restaurateur but did not win the award.
