It looks like Camden is starting to get some of the culinary recognition it deserves.

Yesterday, The James Beard Foundation, one of the most prestigious culinary institutions in the world, distinguished Camden soul food joint Corinne’s Place with a 2022 James Beard Award for America’s Classics. For more than 3 decades, this Best of SJ winner has been offering soul food and Southern cooking to local foodies (as well as the hoards of out-of-town-ers that go out of their way just to visit the restaurant).

Corinne’s Place spread: Via Facebook – @corrinesplace

See what the foundation has to say about one of South Jersey’s favorite spots:

Corinne’s Place
1254 Haddon Ave, Camden, NJ
Owner: Corinne Bradley-Powers

Corinne Bradley-Powers has been keeping Haddon Avenue festive since 1989 with a birthday-pink dining room and a devoted post-church Sunday rush. It could be the Cajun-spiced turkey wings, the picnic-perfect black-eyed peas, the tender pig’s feet in zesty sauce, the smothered pork chops, or the sweet potato pie. But there’s no doubt her classic fried chicken—its simply seasoned crust fried to a golden, heat-bubbled cracker shell concealing juicy meat—is also a prime reason this restaurant has remained an enduring touchstone for home-style soul food. Over the past three decades, it has become a pillar of community at the heart of one of America’s lowest-income cities. Bradley-Powers’ longevity as a business owner remains a beacon of hope that continues to inspire. During the pandemic, she transformed a vacant lot beside her storefront into a tented gathering space for tranquil outdoor dining. Known as “the oasis,” complete with a trickling fountain and warm hospitality to go along with Corinne’s irresistible soul food platters, it lives up to its name. “