After nominations in three previous years, Rasika chef Vikram Sunderam was named Best Chef in the Mid-Atlantic at last night’s James Beard Award gala in New York. Sunderam beat out eight-time nominee Cathal Armstrong of Alexandria’s Restaurant Eve,as well as Spike Gjerde of Baltimore’s Woodberry Kitchen, Cindy Wolf of Baltimore’s Charleston, and Brad Spence of Amis in Philadelphia.

“Of course I’m here only because of the great team that we have here at Rasika, and they work very hard… sometimes,” Sunderam said as he accepted the award. “But it’s because of them that I’m here. And it’s not only the kitchen, it’s the from tot the house too. We have a great team, and they really keep us going.”

Sunderam also thanked his wife, children, and restaurateur Ashok Bajaj—“without whom I would not be here.”

Check out a full list of winners here.

Photo by Kent Miller, courtesy the James Beard Foundation