A little more than a month ago, the finalists for the James Beard Awards were revealed. However, Chef Timothy Hontzas, one of the nominees, has now been disqualified from winning the prize.

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Who is Timothy Hontzas?

Timothy Hontzas is an Alabama-based chef at Johnny’s Restaurant. According to reports, he learned on Wednesday that he had been eliminated from contention for Best Chef. His removal was the result of an independent investigation into alleged violations of the James Beard Foundation’s code of ethics.

Among the breached laws were certain new ethical laws enacted as part of a recent push for diversity and inclusion. However, a judge resigned as a result of the decision to disqualify Hontzas, 51, and a chef friend smashed up his own trophy in protest.

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Hontzas’s mentor and friend John Currence shared a picture of his 2009 James Beard Award being broken by a brick on Instagram. “This one is for you, my friend [Hontzas] and everyone else who has been passed over as a result of bullshit, skewed reasoning, and fake virtue-signaling by the spineless, rudderless, consciousnessless @beardfoundation.”

A number of alleged events involving Hontzas include shouting at customers for leaving the door open, screaming about the ice machine not being replenished, and cursing at kitchen personnel, including one that allegedly escalated into a physical altercation.

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In an email to Hontzas, the group wrote, “Based on the review conducted, the Ethics Committee found it more likely than not that you violated the Code of Ethics. Following consideration by the Board’s Governance Committee of the Ethics Committee’s recommendation, you were deemed ineligible for an award this year.”

“Additionally, you are prohibited from using the seal, logo, or image of the James Beard Awards, and from claiming any recognition from the Foundation in connection with the 2023 Awards.” The email went on to say that Hontzas “may be eligible for an award in a future year.”