(WJAR) — Rhode Island has yet another James Beard award-winning recipient!
Sky Haneul Kim, a chef with Gift Horse in Providence, won James Beard’s “Best Chef of the Northeast.”
“Still processing, still can’t believe this actually happened,” said Kim. “A lot of happy and joy, and you know, it’s emotional. A lot of emotion involved for sure.”
Inspired by her grandmother, she grew an interest in cooking that later developed into a passion.
Now, she’s a chef and lover of special Korean-infused plates that you will find only at Gift Horse on Westminster Street.
“For me, it’s really hard to making or building flavor with Korean cuisine, because it’s such a strong flavor,” said Kim. “So when I’m cooking it, I try to not to touch the base. I always keep the base and play around the base.”
Gift Horse owner and chef Ben Sukle said he is not surprised by the win, but beyond proud.
“She started as an intern, but it was clear early on that this was like , ‘Okay, you’re far more than that,'” said Sukle. “There’s a confidence in her abilities. I mean she loves food, and she’s learned that from an early age, so she knows what’s good.”
NBC 10 asked how it felt wearing the prestigious medal.
“I didn’t expect it was going to be this heavy and again. I didn’t know I was going to have this in the future,” said Kim.
Kim accepted the award Monday night, while wearing her traditional Korean garb, the Hanbok.
But for Kim, this win goes beyond the medal. She wants it to inspire.
“People who [are in] the process like in the kitchen, as a woman, as an Asian, as a different country person, as an immigrant, I want them to be confident,” said Kim. “It will happen. You will overcome and you will be more confident as time comes. This makes me cry to think about it.”
She learned how to become a chef and speak English at the same time. It was far from easy.
But her new medal will forever remind her of how her confidence and capabilities can turn a dream into a reality.
“It made me think about the past 10 years what happened, something good, something bad,” said Kim. “As a woman, as Asian, as immigrant person, as person who doesn’t speak any English. It’s a lot of emotion, you know. It’s like I did it. I overcome this and I got a James Beard.”
Gift Horse is open Thursday through Monday at 4 p.m. and their Oyster Happy Hour is from 4 to 5 p.m. during business hours.