Denver's Penelope Wong of Yuan Wonton wins James Beard Award for Best Chef in Mountain U.S.
By
Miguel Otárola
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Summary
Penelope Wong, owner of Denver's Yuan Wonton dumpling shop, won the James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Mountain U.S. region on Monday night after being nominated three consecutive years. Wong opened Yuan Wonton in 2019 with her husband and sous chef, starting as a food truck before James Beard first considered her as a semifinalist in 2023. She fought back tears during the ceremony at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledThe owner of Yuan Wonton was named the best chef in the mountain U.S. by the James Beard Awards on Monday night, earning the nod after being nominated three years in a row.
Penelope Wong, a Denver native, opened Yuan Wonton in 2019 with her husband Rob Jenks and sous chef Ngoc Nguyen.
On Monday night during the live awards ceremony at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Wong fought back tears as she walked up.
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