Salvador Alamilla of Amano restaurant received the 2025 Best Chef award for the Mountain Region.
CALDWELL, Idaho — The co-owner and head chef of a Mexican restaurant in Caldwell has won a prestigious James Beard Foundation Award.
Salvador Alamilla of Amano restaurant received the Best Chef award for the Mountain Region, which includes Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Wyoming.
Alamilla developed a menu drawing from Southern California, Michoacan and Oaxacan Mexican cuisines.
Amano focuses on traditional masa and mezcal preparations made by hand. The restaurant emphasizes ancestral cooking techniques.
The establishment operates under the P’urhepecha principle of Kaxúmbekua, promoting community inclusion through its cultural approach to cuisine.
The Idaho Hispanic Foundation congratulated Alamilla and his team on social media, stating that their dedication to Mexican culture has transformed Idaho’s restaurant landscape.
The James Beard Awards recognize excellence in the culinary industry and are considered to be one of the most prestigious honors for American chefs and restaurants.
