#United States #Yardley #Trazee Travel #Joey Fecci #Rashida Holmes

Trazee Travel Celebrates Culinary Talent with the Inaugural Joey Fecci Award

On August 1, 2025, Trazee Travel, a leading publication focused on adventurous travel for young adults, proudly announced the first recipient of the Joey Fecci Award for Culinary Excellence. This notable recognition aims to honor the legacy of Chef Joseph D. Fecci, who tragically passed away in April 2024 at just 26 years old, while he was in the process of opening his own restaurant in Nashville.

Chef Fecci was known for his remarkable talent and dedication to the culinary world, having served as the chef de cuisine at Yolan, a renowned dining establishment within The Joseph, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Nashville. In his memory and to preserve his profound influence on aspiring chefs, Trazee Travel created this prestigious award to honor young chefs under 40 who exhibit creativity, originality, and deep passion in their culinary practices—qualities that Chef Fecci displayed throughout his career.

The inaugural Joey Fecci Award was awarded to Chef Rashida Holmes, the innovative owner of Bridgetown Roti in Los Angeles, California. Chef Holmes has a compelling journey, beginning her culinary career in 2008 at an Italian restaurant in Baltimore while attending culinary school. Her talents soon led her to Pittsburgh, where she worked in the kitchen of the James Beard-nominated Big Burrito group at their pan-Asian restaurant, Soba. In 2013, she moved to Los Angeles and took on a prominent role as chef de cuisine for the French-inspired restaurant Terrine in West Hollywood. Following a successful tenure there, Chef Holmes launched her pop-up restaurant, Bridgetown Roti, in 2019, gaining acclaim for her unique and flavorful offerings.

Chef Holmes remarked, “Winning the Joey Fecci Award is one of the most significant moments of my career. I am honored to carry on Chef Fecci's legacy through my work and to inspire future chefs.”

In keeping with Chef Fecci’s spirit, the Joey Fecci Foundation was established by his family. This nonprofit organization, recognized as a 501(c)(3) in Tennessee, aims to continue Chef Fecci’s legacy through culinary scholarships for aspiring chefs who share his passion for the culinary arts. Recently, the foundation awarded its first scholarships, empowering new talent to explore their culinary dreams and honoring Fecci’s unwavering commitment to the industry.

The Trazee Travel community is excited to witness the continued impact of the Joey Fecci Award and the growth of the foundation in fostering a new generation of culinary talent. The industry is watching as celebrated chefs like Rashida Holmes pave the way for others with their innovation and dedication.

At its core, Trazee Travel aims to provide vital information to the 25- to 42-year-old traveler demographic. The platform embraces the adventurous spirit of its readers, helping them navigate the world of travel with fresh and unique insights. Through reports on culinary excellence and its annual awards, Trazee Travel seeks to engage and inspire the community of young explorers.

The announcement regarding the award and Chef Holmes can be found on trazeetravel.com. You can also learn more about Chef Holmes's culinary journey at rashidaholmes.com, and further details about the Joey Fecci Foundation can be accessed at joeyfeccifoundation.org. Together, they exemplify the embodiment of creativity, talent, and inspiration within the culinary arts.

As Trazee Travel continues to spotlight remarkable individuals in the travel and culinary industries, this inaugural award represents a heartfelt tribute to a life that sparked creativity and passion in those around him, ensuring that Chef Joey Fecci’s legacy will live on well into the future.