TASTE AWARDS Andrew Zimmern Discovery & Outstanding Passion Awards Announced for Sonny Side & Yo‑Yo

The TASTE AWARDS, the global mark of excellence for food, fashion, travel, health, and culture storytelling, proudly announce this year’s recipients of two prestigious honorary distinctions.

Will Sonbuchner, better known as Sonny Side, host and creator of the highly popular Best Ever Food Review Show, is the recipient of the Andrew Zimmern Discovery Award — honoring a commitment to food storytelling that bridges culture, identity, and community. Sonny Side’s digital work has introduced millions of viewers around the world to local traditions, regional cuisines, street vendors, and everyday food culture through curiosity‑driven, respectful culinary exploration.

In addition, the Awards committee is proud to name Yolanda “Yo‑Yo” Whitaker the recipient of the Outstanding Passion Award. Yo‑Yo is a Grammy‑nominated musician, television host, and culinary personality known for her series Downright Delicious With Yo‑Yo, where she blends soulful storytelling with a deep love of Southern food culture, music, and community.

This year’s 17th Anniversary TASTE AWARDS Red Carpet Awards Show, Reception, and Ceremony are on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the WGA Theater in Beverly Hills.

The TASTE AWARDS are the global mark of excellence for food, fashion, travel, health, and culture storytelling. Often described as the Oscars of Food, Fashion and Lifestyle Media. Like a Michelin Star, a Grammy, or an Emmy, the TASTE AWARDS define what the world considers worthy of taste.

Beyond its annual ceremony, the TASTE AWARDS serve as a year-round platform for recognition, visibility, and cultural influence, elevating creators and programs that move culture forward and set new standards for global taste.

Nominee & winner announcements, honoree updates, and event details are available at:

www.TheTasteAwards.com

TASTE AWARDS Pre-Announce Selected Winners and March 7th Date in Beverly Hills

The 17th Annual TASTE AWARDS proudly pre-announce Award Winners in selected categories, as well as additional Special Achievement Award Honorees, as selected by the Academy of Media Tastemakers — a global community of creators, producers, and industry leaders dedicated to recognizing excellence in lifestyle media..

Each year, the TASTE AWARDS honor outstanding work across Television, Film, Online & Streaming Video, Podcasts, Radio, and Photography, spotlighting creators whose stories shape how we eat, live, dress, explore, move, and feel.

In addition to celebrating nominees and winners, the TASTE AWARDS also recognize Special Honorees, Celebrity Honorary Award recipients, and Hall of Fame Inductees — individuals whose work and careers have made a lasting cultural impact and helped define the evolving language of taste. Recently announced Honorees include Moby, Sean Kanan, and Yo-Yo Whitaker.

Among the Winners and Honorees are well known celebrity and program names such as Eugene Levy, Christopher Kimball, Maria Loi, Harry Hamlin, Diane Kochilas, Joseph Rosendo, Katie Parla, and Edward Delling-Williams.  

Additional Special Achievement Award Winners (Honorees) will be announced shortly, including for the Anthony Bourdain Lifetime Achievement Award, The Andrew Zimmern Discovery Award, and the Bob Saget Award for Best Comedy or Humor.

Often called “The Oscars of Food, Fashion and Lifestyle Media,” the TASTE AWARDS are not just an event — they are the global benchmark for excellence in food, fashion, travel, health, and culture storytelling. Like a Michelin Star, a Grammy, or an Emmy, they signal work that sets the standard rather than follows it.

SEE THE FULL NOMINEE & WINNER LIST HERE

 

Viewer’s Choice Voting for selected categories is open now through February 7th here.

The 17th Annual TASTE AWARDS Ceremony will take place on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the WGA Theater in Beverly Hills, where nominees, winners, honorees, and industry leaders will gather for the annual presentation of honors. Portions of this event will be filmed for later broadcast. Tickets now available.

Beyond the ceremony, the TASTE AWARDS serve as a year-round platform for recognition, visibility, and cultural influence, elevating creators and programs that move culture forward.

Winners of various selected award categories will also be pre-announced in mid-February 2026.

The TASTE AWARDS have included appearances by stars, celebrities, producers and executives from networks and platforms such as the Food Network, the Style Network, Bravo, the Cooking Channel, Sony Pictures, DreamWorks, TLC, Discovery Communications, Lifetime Network, E! Entertainment Television, PBS, APT, Create TV, NBC, ABC, BBC, the CW, HGTV, the Travel Channel, HD Net, Hulu, YouTube, Vimeo, Vice, LiveWell Network, Esquire Network, Bio/FYI Channel, iHeart Radio, HBO, MyxTV, Small Screen Network, StyleHaul, PTA, Zagat, Mode Media, WatchMojo, Netflix, Amazon Prime, AMC International, Lifetime Network, Buzzed, Vox Media, Gusto TV, MyCleo TV, Recipe.TV, FNL, the Africa Channel, Tastemade, BuzzFeed, Allen Media, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and more.

The TASTE AWARDS Honor Moby with The Harmony of Taste Award

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The TASTE AWARDS, the premier global celebration of excellence in food, fashion, lifestyle, health, travel, and cultural media, is proud to honor acclaimed musician, author, and activist Moby, who will receive the honorary Harmony of Taste Award at the 2026 TASTE AWARDS, taking place on March 7, 2026. The award recognizes cultural figures whose work reflects a meaningful balance between creativity, conscience, and culinary & lifestyle influence.

One of the most influential artists of his generation, Moby has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide, with a career spanning over three decades and redefining the sound of modern electronic music. Beyond music, he has long been a vocal advocate for veganism, animal rights, and ethical living, using his platform to promote compassion, responsibility, and conscious lifestyle choices. In 2015, he opened Little Pine, his first vegan restaurant, in Los Angeles — a project rooted in his belief that food can be both deeply satisfying and ethically aligned. It became a cultural touchstone for vegan dining and hospitality. Moby was also an early investor in Crossroads Kitchen, one of Los Angeles’ most influential vegan restaurants. Through his work in music, writing, and food, Moby has helped frame food not merely as nourishment, but as a meaningful extension of culture, ethics, and personal identity.

Moby’s commitment to food and ethics extends into publishing as well. He has authored two cookbooks, including The Little Pine Cookbook, alongside several memoirs and nonfiction works exploring creativity, identity, and conscious living. The Harmony of Taste Award honors individuals who demonstrate how taste can reflect values and shape culture. “The Harmony of Taste Award recognizes those who show how creativity and conscience can come together through food,” said a TASTE AWARDS spokesperson. “Moby has helped connect music, culture, and ethics in a way that has influenced how people think about what they consume — and why it matters.”

The Harmony of Taste Award joins The TASTE AWARDS’ honorary distinctions across Food & Drink, Fashion & Design, Travel, Health & Fitness, and Lifestyle categories, recognizing individuals shaping the future of taste, style, and creative influence. (thetasteawards.com)

www.TheTasteAwards.com

The 17th TASTE AWARDS Announce Nominees for Film, TV, Streaming, Radio and Podcasts Categories

The TASTE AWARDS proudly announce the nominees for the 17th Annual Honors, as selected by the Academy of Media Tastemakers — a global body of creators, producers, and industry leaders recognizing excellence in lifestyle media.

Each year, the TASTE AWARDS honor outstanding work across Television, Film, Online & Streaming Video, Podcasts, Radio, and Photography, spotlighting creators whose stories shape how we eat, live, dress, explore, move, and feel.

In addition to celebrating nominees and winners, the TASTE AWARDS also recognize Special Honorees, Celebrity Honorary Award recipients, and Hall of Fame Inductees — individuals whose work and careers have made a lasting cultural impact and helped define the evolving language of taste.

Among the Nominees and Honorees are well known celebrity and program names such as Christopher Kimball, Maria Loi, Harry Hamlin, Diane Kochilas, Joseph Rosendo, and Edward Delling-Williams.  

Additional Special Achievement Award Winners (Honorees) will be announced shortly, including for the Anthony Bourdain Lifetime Achievement Award, The Andrew Zimmern Discovery Award, and the Bob Saget Award for Best Comedy or Humor.

Often called “The Oscars of Food, Fashion and Lifestyle Media,” the TASTE AWARDS are not just an event — they are the global benchmark for excellence in food, fashion, travel, health, and culture storytelling. Like a Michelin Star, a Grammy, or an Emmy, they signal work that sets the standard rather than follows it.

SEE THE FULL NOMINEE LIST HERE

 

Viewer’s Choice Voting for selected categories is open now through February 7th here.

The 17th Annual TASTE AWARDS Ceremony will take place on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the WGA Theater in Beverly Hills, where nominees, winners, honorees, and industry leaders will gather for the annual presentation of honors. Portions of this event will be filmed for later broadcast. Tickets now available.

Beyond the ceremony, the TASTE AWARDS serve as a year-round platform for recognition, visibility, and cultural influence, elevating creators and programs that move culture forward.

Winners of various selected award categories will also be pre-announced in mid-February 2026.

The TASTE AWARDS have included appearances by stars, celebrities, producers and executives from networks and platforms such as the Food Network, the Style Network, Bravo, the Cooking Channel, Sony Pictures, DreamWorks, TLC, Discovery Communications, Lifetime Network, E! Entertainment Television, PBS, APT, Create TV, NBC, ABC, BBC, the CW, HGTV, the Travel Channel, HD Net, Hulu, YouTube, Vimeo, Vice, LiveWell Network, Esquire Network, Bio/FYI Channel, iHeart Radio, HBO, MyxTV, Small Screen Network, StyleHaul, PTA, Zagat, Mode Media, WatchMojo, Netflix, Amazon Prime, AMC International, Lifetime Network, Buzzed, Vox Media, Gusto TV, MyCleo TV, Recipe.TV, FNL, the Africa Channel, Tastemade, BuzzFeed, Allen Media, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and more.

Viewers Choice Voting for 17th Annual TASTE AWARDS

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The TASTE AWARDS Honor Sean Kanan with The Bold Flavor Award

The TASTE AWARDS, the premier global celebration of excellence in food, fashion, lifestyle, health, travel, and cultural media, is proud to honor Emmy‑award‑winning actor, author, and culinary entrepreneur Sean Kanan with “The Bold Flavor Award.”

This honorary award recognizes Sean’s fearless creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and passion for culinary arts — qualities that embody the adventurous and innovative ethos of The TASTE AWARDS. The 17th Annual Awards Ceremony will take place Saturday March 7, 2026, bringing together the world’s leading creators, innovators, and lifestyle influencers. (thetasteawards.com)

Sean Kanan has built a remarkable, multifaceted career — from his breakout role as “Mike Barnes” in The Karate Kid Part III and his reprisal in the hit series Cobra Kai, to his longtime role as Deacon Sharpe on the daytime drama The Bold and the Beautiful. Beyond the screen, Sean channels his bold creativity into the culinary world — authoring The Modern Gentleman: Cooking and Entertaining with Sean Kanan and launching his artisan condiment line, Bad Boy Hot Sauce, featuring bold flavors like “Cobra Venom,” “Mango Madness,” and “Red Pepper Punch.” For Sean, cooking is not only a passion but a way to connect people, celebrate culture, and inspire creativity in every kitchen.

“We are thrilled to present Sean Kanan with The Bold Flavor Award,” said A.K. Crump, Chair of the TASTE AWARDS. “Sean embodies the fearless creativity and love of flavor that our Awards celebrate. From Hollywood to the kitchen, he demonstrates how passion, authenticity, and boldness can inspire communities and elevate culture.”

The Bold Flavor Award joins The TASTE AWARDS’ honorary distinctions across Food & Drink, Fashion & Design, Travel, Health & Fitness, and Lifestyle categories, recognizing individuals shaping the future of taste, style, and creative influence. (thetasteawards.com)