Lom Wong chef says winning a James Beard Award celebrates ‘what we love’

After taking home the medal for Best Chef – Southwest at the James Beard Awards in Chicago on Monday night, Lom Wong chef and co-owner Yotaka “Sunny” Martin and her husband Alex celebrated with hot dogs and karaoke.

Riding the high of Martin becoming the second Valley chef in a row to take home the coveted culinary award, the couple took to The Wiener’s Circle and then Alice’s Lounge. It’s a spot “we’ve been going to for as long as we were legally allowed,” says Alex, who is originally from Chicago.

The pair stood in front of the stage at Alice’s, a space anchored by a sunburst of moody lights, and sang Keith Sweat’s “Twisted” together. Martin was still in her black dress, and Alex in the cream suit he had worn to the prestigious event earlier that night.

In the preceding hours, the Martins walked the red carpet and took their seats inside Lyric Opera with two members of the Lom Wong team and Alex’s parents. Martin says she prepared an acceptance speech “just in case.”

When her name was called, she realized she’d need those notes. With her two minutes, the chef said she wanted to “share who we truly are,” Alex said, translating for Martin on Tuesday.

In front of a room packed with other top chefs, industry professionals and media, Martin highlighted her journey from growing up in northern Thailand to building Lom Wong with Alex. The concept started as a pop-up at their home before becoming the celebrated downtown Phoenix restaurant it is today.

“Lom Wong is a reflection on our love for each other and our family,” she said.

She went on to share the restaurant’s motto of “community over self” and thanked their staff, family and chosen family in Thailand for all of their support.

“I never knew about the James Beard Awards until we were nominated,” Martin said at the awards. “I am honored to have one, but it also feels strange to only have my name on it.”

When the Martins return to Phoenix, they plan to treat the Lom Wong team to dim sum to celebrate.

The Best Chef – Southwest category includes Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and Oklahoma. Last year, Bacanora chef Rene Andrade won the category for his Sonoran-style live-fire cooking. Valley chefs FnB’s Charleen Badman and Hai Noon’s Nobuo Fukuda have also previously won the category.

The honor comes at a time when the Martins are getting ready to welcome their second child. To some, that may be overwhelming; to the Martins, it’s serendipitous.

“Lom Wong has allowed us to grow our family. Our son has grown up in our restaurant and our daughter will, too,” Martin said during her acceptance speech.

Now, with the buzz of the James Beard awards, the couple offered an invitation to diners who visit either Lom Wong or the couple’s sibling spot, Mr. Baan’s Bar and Mookata.

“For people who are learning about us from this, come to our restaurant because you want to experience food that comes from the heart and the side of the cooking of Thailand that means the most to us,” Alex said.

In summing up what the recognition means for them and their restaurants, the Martins finished each other’s sentences.

“We’re going to continue to,” Alex began.

“Do what we love,” Martin said.

Lom Wong

218 E. Portland St.