An Idaho chef just won a James Beard Award. It’s only happened once before
A chef from Idaho has won a James Beard Award for only the second time in state history.
Salvador Alamilla, co-owner of Amano in Caldwell, was named “Best Chef: Mountain” during a ceremony Monday at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. He was one of five finalists in the region, which includes Idaho, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Montana. Alamilla made the trip to Chicago for the event, according to Amano’s social media.
Born in Mexico and raised in Santa Ana, California, Alamilla has been a James Beard semifinalist or better for four years in a row. Since opening Amano in 2019 with his wife, Rebecca, he has earned a devoted following with reverent, from-scratch Mexican cuisine. In 2023, Amano was named to The New York Times’ third annual “The Restaurant List,” a guide to “the 50 places in the United States that we’re most excited about right now.”
Alamilla also was a James Beard finalist in 2023. That’s the year Kris Komori, co-owner of Boise restaurant Kin, won “Best Chef: Mountain” — a groundbreaking moment for the state’s restaurant industry.
Established in 1990, the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards are considered the Oscars of the culinary universe. Just being named a finalist is a significant honor.
Alamilla’s award is the latest exciting news in what already was a huge year for Amano. The restaurant recently moved in Caldwell and celebrated the grand opening of its new space in late May at 802 Arthur St.
“We are incredibly grateful for the unwavering support we’ve received throughout this journey,” Rebecca Alamilla said in a press release prior to the ribbon-cutting for the new restaurant. “This new space reflects the growth and vision of Amano, and we’re excited to welcome our community into a place we’re proud to call home.”
This story was originally published June 16, 2025 at 7:30 PM.