Two WV chefs named semifinalists for 2026 James Beard Award

PRESS RELEASE:

The James Beard Awards® presented by Capital One represent the pinnacle of culinary recognition in the US. Since their inception in 1990, the Restaurant and Chef Awards have made icons out of the nation’s top restaurant and bar professionals. Today, these semifinalists join a constellation of James Beard Award–recognized leaders who collectively embody the breadth of American culinary excellence.

Restaurant and Chef nominees will be announced on Tuesday, March 31, and winners will be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on Monday, June 15, 2026 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Here are the James Beard Award semifinalists for 2026:

Outstanding Restaurateur

• Elizabeth Blau, Blau + Associates (Buddy V’s and Honeysalt), Las Vegas, NV

• Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski, Atomic Workshop (The Anchovy Bar, The Progress, and State Bird Provisions), San Francisco, CA

• Mike Brown, Bob Gerken, and James Winberg, Travail Collective (Travail Kitchen & Amusements, ie by Travail, and Dream Creamery), Robbinsdale, MN

• Frank Callero, Joe Flamm, and Steven Zaleski, Day Off Group (Rose Mary, il Carciofo, and BLVD Steakhouse), Chicago, IL

• Rachel Cope, 84 Hospitality (Elisabetta, Gorō Ramen, and Burger Punk), Oklahoma City, OK

• Scott Drewno and Danny Lee, Fried Rice Collective (Anju, Chiko, and I Egg You), Washington, D.C.

• Brett Evje and Michael Ochsner, PLONK Bozeman, J.W. Heist Steakhouse, and PLONK Missoula, Missoula, Bozeman, MT

• Holly Fox and Adam Weisblatt, Last Word Hospitality (Found Oyster, Rasarumah, and The Copper Room), Los Angeles, CA

• Srijith Gopinathan and Ayesha Thapar, Ettan, Copra, and Eylan, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Los Altos, and Menlo Park, CA

• Meherwan Irani and Molly Irani, Chai Pani Restaurant Group (Chai Pani and Botiwalla), Asheville, NC

• Simon Kim, Gracious Hospitality (COTE, Undercote, and COQODAQ), New York, NY

• Tommy Lee, Uncle, Hop Alley, and Molino Chido, Denver, CO

• Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski, Link Restaurant Group (Pêche Seafood Grill, Herbsaint, Cochon, and others), New Orleans, LA

• Tom Main, Freeland’s and Tinker Street, Indianapolis, IN

• Leslie McCrorey Wells, Pizzeria Verità, Trattoria Delia, Sotto Enoteca, and others, Burlington, VT

• Peter Merriman, Merriman’s, Monkeypod, and others, O’ahu, Maui, and Big Island, HI

• Hugo Ortega and Tracy Vaught, H-Town Restaurant Group (Hugo’s, Xochi, Urbe, and others), Houston, TX

• Dana Street, Fore Street, Scales, Standard Baking Co., and others, Portland, ME

• Greg Vernick, Vernick Philadelphia (Vernick Food & Drink, Vernick Fish, and Vernick Coffee Bar), Philadelphia, PA

• Jennifer Vitagliano and Nicole Vitagliano, Elizabeth Street Hospitality (The Musket Room, Raf’s, and Cafe Zaffri), New York, NY

Outstanding Chef

• Ann Ahmed, Khâluna, Minneapolis, MN

• Charleen Badman, FnB, Scottsdale, AZ

• Gilberto Cetina, Holbox, Los Angeles, CA

• Diana Davila, Mi Tocaya Antojeria, Chicago, IL

• Zachary Engel, Galit, Chicago, IL

• Manabu Horiuchi, Katami, Houston, TX

• David Kirkland and Ernest Servantes, Burnt Bean Co., Seguin, TX

• Gabriel Kreuther, Gabriel Kreuther, New York, NY

• Joseph Lenn, J.C. Holdway, Knoxville, TN

• Rob McDaniel, Bayonet, Birmingham, AL

• Niki Nakayama, n/naka, Los Angeles, CA

• Dean Neff, Seabird, Wilmington, NC

• Josh Niernberg, Bin 707 Foodbar, Grand Junction, CO

• Kwame Onwuachi, Tatiana, New York, NY

• Peter Pastan, 2 Amy’s, Washington, D.C.

• Missy Robbins, Lilia, Brooklyn, NY

• Alex Roberts, Alma, Minneapolis, MN

• David Standridge, The Shipwright’s Daughter, Mystic, CT

• Michael Tusk, Quince, San Francisco, CA

• Aaron Verzosa, Archipelago, Seattle, WA

Outstanding Restaurant presented by Acqua Panna® Natural Spring Water

• Antico Nuovo, Los Angeles, CA

• Bar La Grassa, Minneapolis, MN

• Blackbird Kitchen, Bozeman, MT

• The Catbird Seat, Nashville, TN

• Centrolina, Washington, D.C.

• Chubby Fish, Charleston, SC

• EL Ideas, Chicago, IL

• FarmBar, Tulsa, OK

• Foreign Cinema, San Francisco, CA

• The Four Horsemen, Brooklyn, NY

• Kalaya, Philadelphia, PA

• Kasama, Chicago, IL

• Le Pigeon, Portland, OR

• Mixtli, San Antonio, TX

• Nonesuch, Oklahoma City, OK

• O Ya, Boston, MA

• Oberlin, Providence, RI

• Via Carota, New York, NY

• Vianda, San Juan, PR

• Vicia, St. Louis, MO

Emerging Chef presented by S.Pellegrino® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water

• Hector Garate, Palmira Barbecue, Charleston, SC

• Anthony Jones, Marcus DC, Washington, D.C.

• Steve Joo, Joodooboo, Oakland, CA

• Fátima Juárez, Komal, Los Angeles, CA

• E.J. Lagasse, Emeril’s, New Orleans, LA

• Max Lappé and Jacques Varon, Baso, Houston, TX

• Sunny Lee, Sunn’s, New York, NY

• Kyle Lussier, The Pines, Grand Rapids, MN

• Nicolai Mlodinow, Class Act, Chicago, IL

• Ellie Parker, Main Street Provisions, Las Vegas, NV

• Rasheeda Purdie, Ramen by Rā, New York, NY

• Frankie Ramirez, Amá, Philadelphia, PA

• José Olmedo Carles Rojas, Si! Mon, Venice, CA

• Vanessa Rose, Mother’s, Milwaukee, WI

• Ahmed Suliman, Cafe Suliman, Seattle, WA

• Bailey Sullivan, Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio, Chicago, IL

• Pao Thampitak, Gaaeng Supper Club, Boston, MA

• Adrian Torres, Maximo, West University Place, TX

• Bao Tran, Giovedi, Honolulu, HI

• Jasmine Watson, Audette, Newport, RI

Best New Restaurant

• 1033 Omakase, Milwaukee, WI

• Agnes and Sherman, Houston, TX

• Anacacho Coffee & Cantina, San Antonio, TX

• Anjin, Kansas City, MO

• Bong, New York, NY

• Café Monette, St. Albans, VT

• Claudine, Providence, RI

• Echelon Kitchen & Bar, Ann Arbor, MI

• Emmett, Philadelphia, PA

• Evviva, New Orleans, LA

• Far-Out, Dallas, TX

• The Happy Crane, San Francisco, CA

• Indibar, Scottsdale, AZ

• Junah, Salt Lake City, UT

• Kabawa, New York, NY

• Ki, Los Angeles, CA

• Kizaki, Denver, CO

• Lei, New York, NY

• Little Beast Ballard, Seattle, WA

• Maison Bar à Vins, Washington, DC

• Merci, Charleston, SC

• Nadu, Chicago, IL

• Nic & Junior’s, Chicago, IL

• Peregrine, Raleigh, NC

• Robin, St. Louis, MO

• ROLi, New Haven, CT

• RVR, Venice, CA

• Saint Claire, New Orleans, LA

• Tamba, Las Vegas, NV

• The Wayland Mill, Seattle, WA

Outstanding Bakery

• Bánh by Lauren, New York, NY

• Born & Bread Bakehouse, Lakeland, FL

• The Burque Bakehouse, Albuquerque, NM

• Bywater Bakery, New Orleans, LA

• Café Dear Leon, Baltimore, MD

• Cultured, Sister Bay, WI

• Dan The Baker, Columbus, OH

• DeLuxe Cakes and Pastries, Iowa City, IA

• Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop, Anchorage, AK

• Gusto Bread, Long Beach, CA

• Librae, New York, NY

• The Local General Store, Honolulu, HI

• Mercado Sin Nombre, Austin, TX

• Niedlov’s Bakery Cafe, Chattanooga, TN

• Night Moves Bread, South Portland, ME

• Poulette Bakeshop, Parker, CO

• Starship Bagel, Dallas, TX

• Super Secret Ice Cream, Bethlehem, NH

• Weltons Tiny Bakeshop, Charleston, SC

• Wild Crumb, Bozeman, MT

Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker

• Renata Ameni, Birdee, Brooklyn, NY

• Neale Asato, Asato Family Shop, Honolulu, HI

• Susan Bae, Moon Rabbit, Washington, D.C.

• Youssef Boudarine, J’adore Pastry, Indianapolis, IN

• Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Nicosi, San Antonio, TX

• Monique Feybesse and Paul Feybesse, Tarts de Feybesse, Oakland, CA

• Monica Glass, Verveine Cafe & Bakery, Cambridge, MA

• Maggie Huff, Lucia, Dallas, TX

• Courtney Kenyon-Snider, Obélix, Chicago, IL

• Helen Jo Leach, The Town Company, Kansas City, MO

• Eunji Lee, Lysée, New York, NY

• Justine MacNeil, Fiore, Philadelphia, PA

• Claudia Martinez, Bar ANA, Atlanta, GA

• Kimberly Mcintosh, MILKFISH Bakeshop, Las Vegas, NV

• Lucia Merino, Lucia Patisserie, San Juan, PR

• Oscar Ortega, Atelier Ortega, Jackson Hole, WY

• Whitney Stancil, Cuvée at Chatham Inn, Chatham, MA

• Emily Thompson, The Wolf’s Tailor, Denver, CO

• Christina Wood, Temple Pastries, Seattle, WA

• Hannah Ziskin, Quarter Sheets, Los Angeles, CA

Outstanding Hospitality

• Ammatoli, Long Beach, CA

• Ansots Basque Chorizos & Catering, Boise, ID

• Aria, Atlanta, GA

• Barley Swine, Austin, TX

• Bottega, Birmingham, AL

• Bresca, Washington, D.C.

• Cosme, New York, NY

• Daisies, Chicago, IL

• House of Prime Rib, San Francisco, CA

• Joan’s in the Park, St. Paul, MN

• Louie, Clayton, MO

• Mallorca, Cleveland, OH

• Ostra, Boston, MA

• Providence, Los Angeles, CA

• Red Hook Tavern, Brooklyn, NY

• Restaurant Olivia, Denver, CO

• Sofreh, Brooklyn, NY

• State Road, Martha’s Vineyard, MA

• Tailor, Nashville, TN

• Tutka Bay Lodge, Homer, AK

Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program

• Ada’s Wine Bar, Las Vegas, NV

• Amara at Paraiso, Miami, FL

• Apteka, Pittsburgh, PA

• Brasero, Chicago, IL

• Caruso’s, Montecito, CA

• Chambers, New York, NY

• Coquine, Portland, OR

• F.L.X. Table, Geneva, NY

• Field & Main, Marshall, VA

• Kalimotxo, Austin, TX

• Kato, Los Angeles, CA

• Le Bouillon, Omaha, NE

• Le Caviste, Seattle, WA

• One Legged Magpie, Red Lodge, MT

• The Port of Call, Mystic, CT

• The Progress, San Francisco, CA

• Stems and Skins, Charleston, SC

• Sway Brewing & Blending, Baileys Harbor, WI

• Taconeta, El Paso, TX

• Talulla, Cambridge, MA

Outstanding Bar

• Aldo Sohm Wine Bar, New York, NY

• Ayahuasca Cantina, Dallas, TX

• Bow & Arrow Brewing Co., Albuquerque, NM

• Double Chicken Please, New York, NY

• Drastic Measures, Shawnee, KS

• Graft Wine Shop & Wine Bar, Charleston, SC

• Highball, Phoenix, AZ

• Hopleaf Bar, Chicago, IL

• Lady Jane, Denver, CO

• Lovers Bar at Friday Saturday Sunday, Philadelphia, PA

• The Mothership, Milwaukee, WI

• Onyx Coffee Lab, Rogers, AR

• Post Office Place, Salt Lake City, UT

• Realm of the 52 Remedies, San Diego, CA

• Roquette, Seattle, WA

• Scotch Lodge, Portland, OR

• Smuggler’s Cove, San Francisco, CA

• Spoke Wine Bar, Somerville, MA

• Watch Hill Proper, Prospect, KY

• Wild Child Wines, Lafayette, LA

Best New Bar

• Almanac, Philadelphia, PA

• Bar Bucce, Miami, FL

• Bar Chenin, Detroit, MI

• Bar Please!, Boise, ID

• Bar Snack, New York, NY

• Clemente Bar, New York, NY

• The Contrary, Des Moines, IA

• Daisy, Los Angeles, CA

• Daydream Rum Bar, Albuquerque, NM

• The Elbow Room, Vancouver, WA

• Later Bye, Oklahoma City, OK

• Lee’s, Houston, TX

• Loma, Providence, RI

• Lucky Star, Atlanta, GA

• Madeira Park, Atlanta, GA

• Nocturno, Las Vegas, NV

• Pink Flamingo, Baltimore, MD

• Public Parking, Madison, WI

• The Valley Club, San Francisco, CA

• Van Atta, Telluride, CO

Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service

• Zac Adcox, Kid Sister, Phoenix, AZ

• Nader Asgari-Tari, Zurito, Boston, MA

• Bank Atcharawan, Jipata, Las Vegas, NV

• Jack Benchakul, Endorffeine, Los Angeles, CA

• Lee Campbell, Borgo, New York, NY

• Andrea Ciavardini-Royko, Jianna, Greenville, SC

• Paul Einbund, The Morris, San Francisco, CA

• Ryan Fletter, Barolo Grill, Denver, CO

• Braithe Gill, Brennan’s, New Orleans, LA

• Joel Gunderson, Heavenly Creatures, Portland, OR

• Brent Kroll, Maxwell Park, Washington, D.C.

• Jared May, Vida, Indianapolis, IN

• Alyssa Mikiko DiPasquale, The Koji Club, Boston, MA

• Celia Pellegrini, Este, Austin, TX

• Taurean Philpott, Avize, Atlanta, GA

• Amy Racine, La Marchande, New York, NY

• June Rodil, March, Houston, TX

• Sara Sergent, Alpine Distilling Social Aid & Pleasure Club, Park City, UT

• Derek Stevenson, Auro, Calistoga, CA

• Dan Suro-Cipolloni and David Suro-Piñera, Tequilas and La Jefa, Philadelphia, PA

Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service

• Anu Apte, Rob Roy, Seattle, WA

• Doug Atwell, Southpaw, Baltimore, MD

• Eric Bennett, Continental Drift, Birmingham, AL

• Hastings Cameron, Imaginary Factory, Madison, WI

• Diana Condori, Fern Bar, Kansas City, MO

• Kevin Diedrich, Pacific Cocktail Haven, San Francisco, CA

• Nicky Fas, Pantera, Caguas, PR

• Jesse Hedberg, Club Frills, Providence, RI

• McLain Hedges and Mary Allison Wright, Yacht Club, Denver, CO

• Christine Kim, Service Bar, Washington, D.C.

• Jason Lee, Darling, Los Angeles, CA

• Miles Macquarrie, Kimball House, Atlanta, GA

• Christopher Marty, Best Intentions, Chicago, IL

• Mariena Mercer Boarini, Aft Cocktail Deck, Las Vegas, NV

• Ivy Mix, Whoopsie Daisy, Brooklyn, NY

• Kristine Nguyen, Bludorn, Houston, TX

• Gabe Sanchez, Midnight Rambler, Dallas, TX

• Ross Simon, Little Rituals, Phoenix, AZ

• Mike Stankovich, Longfellow, Cincinnati, OH

• Kate Wise, Juniper Bar, Burlington, VT

Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)

• Khaled AlBanna, Calliope, Chattanooga, TN

• Robin Anthony, Omakase by Prime Fish, Charlotte, NC

• Noam Bilitzer, MeeshMeesh, Louisville, KY

• Joe Cash, Scoundrel, Greenville, SC

• Matt Dawes, The Bull and Beggar, Asheville, NC

• Steven Devereaux Greene, Herons at The Umstead, Cary, NC

• Mary Ellen Diaz, Alma Bea, Shepherdstown, WV

• Laurence Faber, Potchke Deli, Knoxville, TN

• Carlo Gan and Mia Orino, Kamayan ATL, Chamblee, GA

• Jimmy Gentry, The Lobbyist, Memphis, TN

• J. Trent Harris, Mujō, Atlanta, GA

• Philip Krajeck, Rolf & Daughters, Nashville, TN

• Cheetie Kumar, Ajja, Raleigh, NC

• Colin Marcelli, Renzo, Charleston, SC

• Freddy Money, Atlas, Atlanta, GA

• Taylor Montgomery, Montgomery Sky Farm, Leicester, NC

• Bintou N’Daw, Bintü Atelier, Charleston, SC

• Todd Schafer, Abel Brown, Augusta, GA

• Heidi Vukov, Hook & Barrel, Myrtle Beach, SC

• David Willocks, The Baker’s Table, Newport, KY