James Beard Semifinalist Avishar Barua: Crafting Culinary Experiences at Agni & Joya’s

In this episode of Chefs in the City, we sit down with Avishar Barua, 2025 James Beard Award semifinalist and the culinary visionary behind Agni and Joya’s in Columbus. Avishar shares his journey of creating unique dining experiences that blend his Bengali-American heritage with modern techniques while offering insight into his philosophy of empowering staff and embracing mistakes as part of the creative process. As part of our three-part series featuring Central Ohio’s James Beard semifinalists, this episode dives into how Avishar’s approach to food and restaurant culture is raising the bar for the local dining scene. Tune in for a deeper look at his culinary vision and what it means to be recognized by the prestigious James Beard Foundation.