News Summary
Coastal Virginia’s Best Of The Eastern Shore Awards for 2025 has unveiled its winners, highlighting local restaurants, retailers, and attractions. This year, community input played a vital role, celebrating outstanding achievements including local chef Harley Peet’s recognition as Best Chef in the Mid-Atlantic. The awards also spotlight young talent like writer William Wyatt Arnold, showcasing the region’s creativity and resilience amidst challenges. Mark your calendars for the next voting opportunity later this year and continue supporting local gems!
Coastal Virginia Unveils Top Winners in Culinary and Creative Scene
Coastal Virginia has come together to celebrate the very best our local gems have to offer! The much-anticipated third annual Best Of The Eastern Shore Awards for 2025 are in, and what an exciting lineup we have this year! The winners, who have captivated the hearts and stomachs of the community, were chosen through a popular online voting process that took place in late 2024.
A Flavorful Celebration
The awards cover a wide array of categories including restaurants, retail, and local attractions. It’s a fun way for folks to not only show love to their favorite spots but also discover new ones that might be right on their doorstep. Each winner is typically allowed recognition in no more than three categories, ensuring a diverse representation of local favorites. Make sure to mark your calendars! The public will get another chance to cast their votes for the 2026 awards later this year.
Community Spirit Shines
The results this year beautifully reflect the vital input from the community, derived from votes and write-in submissions. It’s a true testament to the community spirit here in Coastal Virginia. There’s also a special mention of encouraging young talent, as a local high school student, William Wyatt Arnold, achieved dazzling triumphs in national writing contests. This young author, a junior at Queen Anne’s County High School, snagged a Silver Medal in the prestigious National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.
Spotlight on Young Talent
Arnold’s compelling flash fiction story, titled “Shouting Into a Deaf Ear,” presents an imaginative narrative about a man starting a radio station after an apocalypse. This remarkable talent stood out among around 310,000 submissions nationwide, marking a noteworthy milestone in his young writing career. His teacher, Laurie Elben, highlighted Arnold’s dedication and commitment to his craft. Not stopping there, he also earned five Silver Keys and one Gold Key at the regional level, showcasing his prowess in both flash fiction and short story categories. Enthusiasts can look forward to seeing his work highlighted in online galleries and in the Yearbook 2025, which is set to feature all National Medalists.
Culinary Achievements Take Center Stage
In the culinary world, this year’s awards emphasize the rising recognition of East Coast cuisine. Among the notable accolades, local chef Harley Peet of Bas Rouge has been celebrated as the Best Chef in the Mid-Atlantic Region during the elite James Beard Awards. His culinary creativity has certainly elevated the dining experience in Easton, Maryland. Meanwhile, the vibrant scene in Baltimore was also in the spotlight, particularly with the nomination of Clavel Mezcaleria in the outstanding bar category, even though they didn’t clinch the award.
Navigating Culinary Challenges
The awards serve not only as a celebration but also as recognition of the remarkable resilience shown by culinary professionals amidst the challenges of 2024, such as high food and labor costs. Throughout these testing times, the community has rallied to support local businesses, and it has truly paid off.
Writers Shine Bright
On the literary front, the awards spotlighted D. Watkins, who garnered attention for his illuminating article on the sober bar scene. He proudly received recognition in the beverage category at the James Beard Awards, showcasing the depth of talent that our region has to offer.
All in all, the Best Of The Eastern Shore Awards of 2025 have been a spectacular celebration of local ingenuity and resilience. It’s clear that Coastal Virginia is brimming with talent, and the community is eagerly looking forward to the next round of voting to continue this legacy of excellence!
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- Coastal Virginia Magazine: Best Of The Eastern Shore Awards
- My Eastern Shore: QACHS Student Wins National Scholastic Art and Writing Award
- WBAL TV: 2025 James Beard Awards Semifinalists Maryland
- The Baltimore Banner: James Beard Awards Baltimore Clavel
- Condé Nast Traveler: Eastern Top Resorts
- Wikipedia: James Beard Awards
- Google Search: Best of the Eastern Shore
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Writing
- Google News: Culinary Awards
Author: STAFF HERE WILLIAMSBURG WRITER
WILLIAMSBURG STAFF WRITER The WILLIAMSBURG STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREWilliamsburg.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Williamsburg, James City County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Williamsburg Farmers Market, Yorktown Market Days, and Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce and Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, plus leading businesses in education and hospitality that power the local economy such as College of William & Mary, The Williamsburg Winery, and Sodexo. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREVirginiaBeach.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Virginia's dynamic landscape.
