2018 James Beard America's Classic Award Winner: Sun Wah

Each year since 1998 the James Beard Foundation Awards Committee has recognized our nation’s beloved regional restaurants. Distinguished by their timeless appeal, they serve quality food that reflects the character of their communities. We anoint these locally owned restaurants with a James Beard Foundation Award and designate them as America’s Classics. Sun Wah Chicago, IL Owners: Kelly Cheng, Laura Cheng, and Michael Cheng Eric Cheng began his career in New York City in Chinatown. In 1986, he and his wife, Lynda Cheng, opened a B.Y.O. storefront in Uptown Chicago, then, as now, the city’s most ethnically diverse neighborhood. In 2008, three out of their four children, Michael Cheng (barbecue chef), Kelly Cheng (general manager), and Laura Cheng (executive chef), took over the business and moved the restaurant to a bigger space around the corner. People travel from across the city for their famed three-course Beijing Duck Feast (so famous the family doesn’t bother listing it on the menu), carved tableside and served with duck fried rice and duck soup. Sun Wah got its liquor license years ago, but in a nod to its history and its loyal supporters, permits B.Y.O. for a ludicrously low corkage fee. Produced for the James Beard Foundation's 2018 Gala Awards by Linton Media in collaboration with Bowen and Company. http://www.lintonmedia.com/ http://www.bowenandco.com/ Executive Producer: Katherine Linton Producer: Jeca Taudte Field Producer: Ryan Heraly (Chicago) Editor: Jillian Buckley Post-Producer / Additional Editing: Jorge Garcia Spitz Director of Photography: Vincent Venturella Re-Recording Mixer: Nati Taub and Ronen Nagel / SoundAround Studios, Tel Aviv Production Manager: Genevieve Baker