We’re thrilled to raise the curtain on the Taste Talks Food & Drink Awards : a national culinary awards program for a new generation of food and drink lovers focusing on culture, innovation, and diversity.

This September, we’re pushing the boundaries of what a food awards program can be, putting our focus on culture, innovation and diversity. With over 30 award categories including best food startup , best food Instagram account , and best non-profit , we’re toasting chefs, restaurants, innovators and food media for their great taste.

“There isn’t a food and drink awards that is celebrating what’s inspiring the new generation of food and drink lovers,” said Awards Director Will Levitt. “That’s why we created The Taste Talks Food & Drink Awards. With categories for things like best food startup, best food Instagram account, and best non­-profit, we’re pushing the boundaries of what a food awards program can be, with a real focus on culture, innovation and diversity.”

The winners will be announced at a live awards ceremony on Monday, September 26 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music Howard Gilman Opera House (BAM). Hosted by comedian and food personality Mo Rocca, a correspondent on CBS Sunday Morning News with Charles Osgood and host of the network’s Emmy-winning series The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation, as well as host and creator of Cooking Channel’s My Grandmother’s Ravioli, and a frequent panelist on NPR’s weekly quiz show Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me! Rocca also spent four seasons as a correspondent on both the The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and won an Emmy as a writer for the 64th Annual Tony Awards.

“The only thing I like better than eating is awards shows,” said Rocca. “I hope there’s an In Memoriam for all the great meals I devoured in the last year.”

Taste Talks’ Food & Drink Awards host Mo Rocca.

Leveraging Taste Talks’ network of thought leaders and culinary luminaries—with a voting academy including past and present festival curators such as April Bloomfield and Questlove, as well as dozens more—the awards will celebrate culinary excellence from coast ­to ­coast.

This isn’t your regular golf-claps awards ceremony, either: our live show is bringing fresh energy to the format with musical performances, engaging cooking demos with top chefs, comedians, and live storytelling — not to mention your favorite chefs and cultural influencers all in attendance.

Award nominees will be submitted by the public and then voted upon by our Academy members, who will vote in two rounds: submissions into nominees, and nominees into winners. Submissions for nominees are open today and through June 20. Know a chef, restaurant, Instagrammer, or organization that deserves a standing ovation? Now’s the time to give credit where credit is due. Bonus: each entry enters you to win free tickets to the awards ceremony this September!