Mike Lata Wins Best Chef Award
Mike Lata, chef of FIG (Food Is Good) in Charleston, SC, couldn’t have wished for a better birthday present than what he received the night before his birthday. Lata won the James Beard Foundation’s 2009 Best Chef: Southeast Award on May 4, an accomplishment he is still celebrating.
Having been nominated twice for the James Beard Award in previous years, “you convince yourself that you’re not going to win so you won’t be disappointed. I wasn’t prepared to get it and I don’t know if I could’ve prepared for it,” said Lata, a self-taught chef.
After his name was called, he shared hugs and high fives with those around him and then went up to receive his award. “From that moment on, I was in outer space,” he said. "It takes several days for it to kick in. It’s a big deal in so many ways and certainly when I think about it, I want to come to work and work hard to live up to the expectations of our customers.”
The win is definitely an opportunity for new customers whose curiosities have been piqued as a result of Lata winning the award. “Everybody now is going to come see why,” said Lata. “When they walk in the door we have to make them feel like they deserve it and have to be a part of it.”
This is no ordinary honor for Lata, who hosted the first out-of-house James Beard event in South Carolina. “Our body of work was recognized by our peers as having integrity, impacting our community and influencing other chefs. We believe in what we do so much so, but when the body of your peers recognize you as a standout that becomes so much more important than being recognized by a critic.”
All are welcome to the warm, inviting urban bistro which has a seasonally inspired menu using the freshest local meats, seafood and produce.
FIG is located at 232 Meeting Street in the heart of downtown Charleston.