PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Phila Lorn describes his Bella Vista restaurant, Mawn, as a noodle house with “no rules.” Now, Lorn rules the food world.
He won the James Beard Award for Emerging Chef Monday night in Chicago.
“What a dream. Thank you to the James Beard Foundation. Thank you for seeing us,” he said in his acceptance speech.
Lorn said he dedicates his win to “assumptions” — assumptions that his restaurant was too small, not focused enough, and not authentic enough.
“When I found out I was nominated for this award, the assumption was I was gonna win it. Philly, what up!” he said enthusiastically.
Mawn is located on Ninth Street, near Catherine Street. It features dishes from Southeast Asia, with a focus on Cambodia, from where Lorn’s parents are from. They came to the U.S. as refugees 30 years ago.