Tyson Cole on Tying at the James Beard Awards

During Tyson Cole's acceptance speech at the Beard Awards, there was a slightly awkward moment when the Uchi/ko chef took the stage.

After discovering he had tied for the Best Chef: Southwest category with Saipin Chutima of Las Vegas Thai restaurant Lotus of Siam, the chef said, "Tie...tie...interesting."

We reached out to Cole for comment, and here's what he told us:

"I just didn't know how to react to the tie. Kinda like I got the date with the girl I've been chasing for years...but then when I got to her house to pick her up, she says we gotta take her sister with us!"

Houston blog 29-95 says when Cole was in the audience, he mistakenly heard the presenter's announcement that there was a tie as "Thai," and they surmise that the quote should be read "Thai...tie....interesting."

Which could be possible? Cole told us he thought the tie was fitting given that both Lotus of Siam and Uchi focus on Asian cuisine, and mentioned that "I thought it was pretty cool that the tie was with someone Thai."

· Tyson Cole Wins Best Chef: Southwest at the Beard Awards [-EATX-]
· Texas Chef Wins James Beard Award [29-95]
· All Tyson Cole Coverage on Eater Austin [-EATX-]
Cole and Chutima. [Photo: Krieger]