NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Among the recipients of this year's James Beard Award winners is one Nashville chef.

Jake Howell, executive chef of Peninsula in East Nashville, was named best chef in the southeast at the 2025 James Beard Awards.

In a social media post announcing the win, Howell said that "thankful hardly covers what this moment means."

"It’s a flood of gratitude that words tend to fall short of capturing. I’m grateful for the recognition, yes, but even more so for my incredible team—trusting, fierce, unwavering—and for the community whose support has been the backbone of this journey," Howell's post reads, in part. "Here’s to the magic of collaboration, persistence, and a little bit of luck."

If you would like to dine at Peninsula, the restaurant is open for dinner from Thursday through Saturday. You can follow this link to make a reservation.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/nashville-best-chef-southeast-2025/