I am thrilled to receive the James Beard Foundation® Emerging Voice in Books Award as part of the 2026 Media Awards for work on my debut cookbook, Chop Chop: Cooking the Food of Nigeria. This award is dedicated to Nigeria, and Nigerians the world over.
Chop Chop is the first Nigerian Cookbook to win a James Beard Award and I’m thrilled to fly the Nigerian cuisine flag high.
The Awards, presented by American Express and Resy, honored outstanding achievement and excellence in storytelling in Book, Broadcast Media, and Journalism in Chicago on Saturday, the 13th of June, 2026 at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Across formats and platforms, the Media Awards celebrate the exceptional individuals and teams whose work captures the richness and vibrancy of food, beverage, dining, and food systems in the United States and beyond, and whose work sheds light on the people, perspectives, and histories that shape our food culture.
“We are thrilled to announce the exceptional winners of the 2026 Media Awards—storytellers whose work reminds us that food is never just what’s on the plate, but a profound mirror of our culture, history, identity, and shared humanity,” said Clare Reichenbach, CEO, James Beard Foundation. “From family tables to the front lines of food justice, these winners are driving the conversations that shape our culinary landscape. It is an honor to recognize their impactful work.”
It was a great ceremony, with about 500 people in attendance. It began with an intro, and then the award were presented across Books, Media, and Journalism.
I sat in the audience until tt was time for me to get on stage to receive my award.
I received The Emerging Voice Award in Books which … recognizes work of immediate impact and lasting significance by a first-time published author whose unique perspective expands the reach of the subject matter. The Book Awards subcommittee selects the winner for this category…”
Along with a medallion.
I gave a speech that included how the book came to, acknowledgement, thanks, and expressions of gratitude to a host of people from my agent to the publishers, others instrumental in the process, family and friends.
There was some engagement with the media including “biting my medal”.
© 2026 Galdones Photography
The history of “biting medals” is connected with “purity checks”, according to Olympics.com.
“History says that, during the early days, traders bit their gold coins to check its authenticity when the precious metal was used as a form of currency. Gold is a soft metal which dents under slight stress and leaves a mark when gnawed.
However, it’s safe to say that the Olympic champions are not checking for the purity of their medals when they pose for the photos with the metal disc in their mouths.
Moreover, since the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stopped awarding pure gold medals in 1912, it is definitely not the reason.
Then why do Olympic winners still bite their medals?
Because the photographers ask them to.
“It’s become an obsession with the photographers,” David Wallechinsky, president of the International Society of Olympic Historians, told CNN*.*
Shutterbugs consider the medal biting pose to be the shot that can make it to the front page of next day’s newspaper and hence request the athletes to do so.
“I think they look at it as an iconic shot, as something that you can probably sell. I don’t think it’s something the athletes would probably do on their own,” Wallechinsky explained.
This was followed by an after-party and reception that was over flowing in food, drinks, and people.
© 2026 Max Flatlow
It was a great night and I’m thrilled to have Chop Chop continue to blaze trails the world over.
Up and onwards.
Again, thank you to everyone who’s supported me on this journey.
