MeeshMeesh’s Chef Noam Bilitzer Named Finalist for James Beard Best Chef Award

Chef Noam Bilitzer, owner and chef of MeeshMeesh Mediterranean in Louisville, Kentucky, is one of five finalists for the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef: Southeast award.

The James Beard Awards are considered among the highest honors for chefs and restaurants in the country. For Bilitzer, being named a finalist is a dream come true.

“I’m speechless. So many of my culinary heroes have been recognized by the James Beard Foundation and to share that is such an honor,” said Bilitzer. “I’m incredibly fortunate to be supported by a talented team, especially my chef de cuisine, Alex Hamrick.”

“The Louisville community loves to support its restaurants—we all eat well,” Bilitzer continued. “It’s their continued support and love for MeeshMeesh that has really helped us reach this point.”

Bilitzer is now set to attend the 35th annual James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards at the Lyric Opera in Chicago on Monday, June 16, to see if his name will be called among the winners.

Fellow Kentuckian and Top Chef alumna Sara Bradley of Freight House in Paducah also made the list of finalists.

In December 2024, Yelp ranked MeeshMeesh No. 2 on its list of Best New Restaurants in the South and No. 3 on its national Best New Restaurants list.

In addition to MeeshMeesh, Bilitzer opened Buds, a MeeshMeesh Concept Kitchen, last month at Trellis Brewing in Louisville’s Smoketown neighborhood at 827 Logan Street. Buds will rotate various test concepts. Their first test is called Khao Boys, Thai-inspired Thai, headlined by extra crispy Thai-style fried chicken and som tum, a spicy, sour green papaya salad. Their current menu is gluten free with many vegan options.

Bilitzer opened MeeshMeesh at 636 East Market Street in the heart of Louisville’s Nulu neighborhood in Sept. 2023.