On Saturday, June 3, 2023, SOMM TV’s original film, “The Whole Animal”, emerged victorious in the Visual Media—Long Form category at the 2023 James Beard Awards. The awards took place during a live ceremony at Columbia College Chicago, honoring the nation’s top food authors, broadcast producers, hosts, journalists, podcasters, and social media content creators.
“The Whole Animal”, which premiered exclusively on SOMM TV on June 3, 2022, is a stunning documentary that explores the ancient profession of butchery, captivating viewers by highlighting the intersection of food and culture across eight different countries.
“The James Beard Foundation is something that’s hard to put into words, how much it guides our industry. It means so much to stand in front of all of you,” says Jason Wise, the film’s director and SOMM TV creator, in his acceptance speech.
Wise thanked his wife and fellow producer, Christina Wise, along with Logan Hall and John Adams. Jackson Myers, who has been with SOMM TV since the original “SOMM” film and is a producer of “The Whole Animal”, was also on hand to accept the award. “The story is really about the triangle of the chef, the butcher, and the farmer,” Myers says. “When taking a bite of a delicious piece of meat, just remember to thank all of those that were involved in getting it to the plate.”
The James Beard Foundation celebrates excellence while promoting the significance of the culinary industry and its impact on our daily lives. The Media Award winners, including “The Whole Animal”, embody the spirit of culinary storytelling while continuing to inspire and engage audiences worldwide.
“The Whole Animal” is available to watch on SOMM TV. To become a subscriber, go to SOMMTV.com.
