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THE 40 MILLION DOLLAR RENOVATION PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO LAST TWO YEARS. EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE BROUGHT YOU THE LIST OF SEMIFINALISTS FOR THE 2026 JAMES BEARD AWARDS — THE SO-CALLED “OSCARS” OF THE FOOD INDUSTRY. NOW — TWO MAINE NAMES ARE ADVANCING TO THE FINAL ROUND. FORE STREET, SCALES AND STANDARD BAKING COMPANY FOUNDER áDANA STREETá IS UP AGAINST FIVE OTHER NOMINEES FOR áOUTSTANDING RESTRAUTEURá THOMAS TAKASHI COOKE OF IZAKAYA MINATO IN PORTLAND– IN THE RUNNING FOR áBEST CHEF: NORTHEAST AWARDá… THE FINALISTS WILL HEAD TO CHICAGO FOR THE JAMES BEARD RESTAURANT AND CHEF AWARDS CEREMONY ON JUNE 15TH… A LOOK OUTSIDE TOWARD HARSPWELL… THIS IS W-M-T-W NEWS 8 THIS MORNING. WE
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2026 James Beard Awards nominees announced across top restaurant and chef categories
The 2026 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Award nominees were announced this week. The awards are considered one of the highest honors within the culinary profession in the U.S. The winners will be revealed at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on June 15 in Chicago. The nominees include:Outstanding RestaurateurSrijith Gopinathan and Ayesha Thapar, Cal-India Collective (Ettan, Copra, Eylan and Little Blue Door), Palo Alto, San Francisco, Menlo Park, Los Altos, CaliforniaMeherwan Irani and Molly Irani, Chai Pani Restaurant Group (Chai Pani and Botiwalla), Asheville, North CarolinaDonald Link and Stephen Stryjewski, Link Restaurant Group (Pêche Seafood Grill, Herbsaint, Cochon, and others), New Orleans, LouisianaHugo Ortega and Tracy Vaught, H Town Restaurant Group (Hugo’s, Xochi, Urbe, and others), Houston, TexasDana Street, Fore Street, Scales, Standard Baking Co., and others, Portland, MaineOutstanding ChefGilberto Cetina, Holbox, Los Angeles, CaliforniaNiki Nakayama, n/naka, Los Angeles, CaliforniaJosh Niernberg, Bin 707 Foodbar, Grand Junction, ColoradoDavid Standridge, The Shipwright’s Daughter, Mystic, ConnecticutMichael Tusk, Quince, San Francisco, CaliforniaOutstanding Restaurant The Catbird Seat, Nashville, TennesseeThe Four Horsemen, Brooklyn, New YorkKalaya, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaMixtli, San Antonio, TexasVicia, St. Louis, MissouriEmerging Chef Fátima Juárez, Komal, Los Angeles, CaliforniaE.J. Lagasse, Emeril’s, New Orleans, LouisianaRasheeda Purdie, Ramen by Ra, New York, New YorkBailey Sullivan, Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio, Chicago, IllinoisAdrian Torres, Maximo, West University Place, TexasBest New Restaurant1033 Omakase, Milwaukee, WisconsinAgnes and Sherman, Houston, TexasAnjin, Kansas City, MissouriEmmett, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaKi, Los Angeles, CaliforniaLei, New York, New YorkMaison Bar à Vins, Washington, D.C.Merci, Charleston, South CarolinaRobin, St. Louis, MissouriTamba, Las Vegas, NevadaOutstanding BakeryCultured, Sister Bay, WisconsinFire Island Rustic Bakeshop, Anchorage, AlaskaSuper Secret Ice Cream, Bethlehem, New HampshireWeltons Tiny Bakeshop, Charleston, South CarolinaWild Crumb, Bozeman, MontanaOutstanding Pastry Chef or BakerNeale Asato, Asato Family Shop, Honolulu, HawaiiSusan Bae, Moon Rabbit, Washington, D.C.Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Nicosi, San Antonio, TexasMaggie Huff, Lucia, Dallas, TexasJustine MacNeil, Fiore, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaOutstanding HospitalityAnsots Basque Chorizos & Catering, Boise, IdahoAria, Atlanta, GeorgiaBottega, Birmingham, AlabamaLouie, Clayton, MissouriProvidence, Los Angeles, CaliforniaOutstanding Wine and Other Beverages ProgramChambers, New York, New YorkField & Main Restaurant, Marshall, VirginiaKato, Los Angeles, CaliforniaThe Port of Call, Mystic, ConnecticutSway Brewing & Blending, Baileys Harbor, WisconsinOutstanding BarBow & Arrow Brewing Co., Albuquerque, New MexicoThe Lovers Bar at Friday Saturday Sunday, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaOnyx Coffee Lab, Rogers, ArkansasScotch Lodge, Portland, OregonSmuggler’s Cove, San Francisco, CaliforniaBest New BarBar Chenin, Detroit, MichiganBar, Please!, Boise, IdahoClemente Bar, New York, New YorkLater Bye, Oklahoma City, OklahomaLoma, Providence, Rhode IslandOutstanding Professional in Beverage ServiceJack Benchakul, endorffeine coffee bar, Los Angeles, CaliforniaLee Campbell, Borgo, New York, New YorkRyan Fletter, Barolo Grill, Denver, ColoradoBrent Kroll, Maxwell Park, Washington, D.C.June Rodil, March, Houston, TexasOutstanding Professional in Cocktail ServiceHastings Cameron, Imaginary Factory, Madison, WisconsinKevin Diedrich, Pacific Cocktail Haven, San Francisco, CaliforniaNicky Fas, Pantera, Caguas, Puerto RicoMcLain Hedges and Mary Allison Wright, Yacht Club, Denver, ColoradoIvy Mix, Whoopsie Daisy, Brooklyn, New YorkBest Chefs (by region)Best Chef: CaliforniaDave Beran, Seline, Santa MonicaHarrison Cheney, Sons & Daughters, San FranciscoSarah Cooper and Alan Hsu, Sun Moon Studio, OaklandKwang Uh, Baroo, Los AngelesDaisy Ryan, Bell’s, Los AlamosBest Chef: Great LakesVinnie Cimino, Cordelia, Cleveland, OhioSarah Dworak, Sudova, Cincinnati, OhioNorman Fenton, Cariño, Chicago, IllinoisJeffery Harris, Nolia Kitchen, Cincinnati, OhioJacob Potashnick, Feld, Chicago, IllinoisBest Chef: Mid-AtlanticNathan Flaim, Luca, Lancaster, PennsylvaniaJesse Ito, Royal Sushi & Izakaya, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaAmanda Shulman, Her Place Supper Club, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaSuresh Sundas, Tapori, Washington, D.C.Omar Tate and Cybille St. Aude-Tate, Honeysuckle, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaBest Chef: MidwestZak Baker, Ca’Lucchenzo, Wauwatosa, WisconsinShigeyuki Furukawa, Kado No Mise, Minneapolis, MinnesotaLoryn Nalic, Balkan Treat Box, Webster Groves, MissouriNick Bognar, Sado, Pavilion, St. Louis, MissouriDavid Utterback, Yoshitomo, Ota, Omaha, NebraskaBest Chef: Mountain Johnny Curiel, Alma Fonda Fina, Denver, ColoradoTravis Herbert, Felt Bar & Eatery, Salt Lake City, UtahEarl James Reynolds, Herb & Omni, Whitefish, MontanaPenelope Wong, Yuan Wonton, Denver, ColoradoNick Zocco, Urban Hill, Salt Lake City, UtahBest Chef: New York StateFidel Caballero, Corima, New York, New YorkGiovanni Cervantes, Carnitas Ramirez, New York, New YorkHooni Kim, Meju, Queens, New YorkAyesha Nurdjaja, Shukette, New York, New YorkJoshua Pinsky, Claud, New York, New YorkBest Chef: NortheastDavid DiStasi, Materia Ristorante, Bantam, ConnecticutEvan Hennessey, Stages, Dover, New HampshireThomas Takashi Cooke, Izakaya Minato, Portland, MainePaul Trombly, Fancy’s, Burlington, VermontDerek Wagner, Nicks on Broadway, Providence, Rhode IslandBest Chef: Northwest and PacificNathan Bentley, Altura Bistro, Anchorage, AlaskaJohnny Courtney, Atoma, Seattle, WashingtonThomas Pisha-Duffly, Gado Gado, Portland, OregonRyan Roadhouse, Nodoguro, Portland, OregonAaron Tekulve, Surrell, Seattle, WashingtonBest Chef: South Ana Castro, Acamaya, New Orleans, LouisianaBryce Bonsack, Rocca, Tampa, FloridaMaria La Mota and Chason Spencer, Chancho King, Jacksonville, FloridaSerigne Mbaye, Dakar NOLA, New Orleans, LouisianaJason Paul, Heirloom at The 1907, Rogers, ArkansasBest Chef: SoutheastJoe Cash, Scoundrel, Greenville, South CarolinaMary Ellen Diaz, Alma Bea, Shepherdstown, West VirginiaJ. Trent Harris, Mujō, Atlanta, GeorgiaTaylor Montgomery, Montgomery Sky Farm, Leicester, North CarolinaDavid Willocks, The Baker’s Table, Newport, KentuckyBest Chef: SouthwestJeff Chanchaleune, Bar Sen, Oklahoma City, OkahomaBrian Howard, Sparrow + Wolf, Las Vegas, NevadaSteve Riley, Mesa Provisions, Albuquerque, New MexicoSarah Thompson, Casa Playa, Las Vegas, NevadaZack Walters, Sedalia’s, Oklahoma City, OklahomaBest Chef: TexasOpe Amosu, ChòpnBlọk, HoustonEvelyn Garcia and Henry Lu, JŪN, HoustonScott Girling, Osteria Il Muro, DentonGabe Padilla and Melissa Padilla, Café Piro, SocorroFinn Walter, The Nicolett, Lubbock
The 2026 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Award nominees were announced this week.
The awards are considered one of the highest honors within the culinary profession in the U.S. The winners will be revealed at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on June 15 in Chicago.
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The nominees include:
Outstanding Restaurateur
- Srijith Gopinathan and Ayesha Thapar, Cal-India Collective (Ettan, Copra, Eylan and Little Blue Door), Palo Alto, San Francisco, Menlo Park, Los Altos, California
- Meherwan Irani and Molly Irani, Chai Pani Restaurant Group (Chai Pani and Botiwalla), Asheville, North Carolina
- Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski, Link Restaurant Group (Pêche Seafood Grill, Herbsaint, Cochon, and others), New Orleans, Louisiana
- Hugo Ortega and Tracy Vaught, H Town Restaurant Group (Hugo’s, Xochi, Urbe, and others), Houston, Texas
- Dana Street, Fore Street, Scales, Standard Baking Co., and others, Portland, Maine
Outstanding Chef
- Gilberto Cetina, Holbox, Los Angeles, California
- Niki Nakayama, n/naka, Los Angeles, California
- Josh Niernberg, Bin 707 Foodbar, Grand Junction, Colorado
- David Standridge, The Shipwright’s Daughter, Mystic, Connecticut
- Michael Tusk, Quince, San Francisco, California
Outstanding Restaurant
- The Catbird Seat, Nashville, Tennessee
- The Four Horsemen, Brooklyn, New York
- Kalaya, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Mixtli, San Antonio, Texas
- Vicia, St. Louis, Missouri
Emerging Chef
- Fátima Juárez, Komal, Los Angeles, California
- E.J. Lagasse, Emeril’s, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Rasheeda Purdie, Ramen by Ra, New York, New York
- Bailey Sullivan, Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio, Chicago, Illinois
- Adrian Torres, Maximo, West University Place, Texas
Best New Restaurant
- 1033 Omakase, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Agnes and Sherman, Houston, Texas
- Anjin, Kansas City, Missouri
- Emmett, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Ki, Los Angeles, California
- Lei, New York, New York
- Maison Bar à Vins, Washington, D.C.
- Merci, Charleston, South Carolina
- Robin, St. Louis, Missouri
- Tamba, Las Vegas, Nevada
Outstanding Bakery
- Cultured, Sister Bay, Wisconsin
- Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop, Anchorage, Alaska
- Super Secret Ice Cream, Bethlehem, New Hampshire
- Weltons Tiny Bakeshop, Charleston, South Carolina
- Wild Crumb, Bozeman, Montana
Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker
- Neale Asato, Asato Family Shop, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Susan Bae, Moon Rabbit, Washington, D.C.
- Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Nicosi, San Antonio, Texas
- Maggie Huff, Lucia, Dallas, Texas
- Justine MacNeil, Fiore, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Outstanding Hospitality
- Ansots Basque Chorizos & Catering, Boise, Idaho
- Aria, Atlanta, Georgia
- Bottega, Birmingham, Alabama
- Louie, Clayton, Missouri
- Providence, Los Angeles, California
Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program
- Chambers, New York, New York
- Field & Main Restaurant, Marshall, Virginia
- Kato, Los Angeles, California
- The Port of Call, Mystic, Connecticut
- Sway Brewing & Blending, Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin
Outstanding Bar
- Bow & Arrow Brewing Co., Albuquerque, New Mexico
- The Lovers Bar at Friday Saturday Sunday, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Onyx Coffee Lab, Rogers, Arkansas
- Scotch Lodge, Portland, Oregon
- Smuggler’s Cove, San Francisco, California
Best New Bar
- Bar Chenin, Detroit, Michigan
- Bar, Please!, Boise, Idaho
- Clemente Bar, New York, New York
- Later Bye, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Loma, Providence, Rhode Island
Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service
- Jack Benchakul, endorffeine coffee bar, Los Angeles, California
- Lee Campbell, Borgo, New York, New York
- Ryan Fletter, Barolo Grill, Denver, Colorado
- Brent Kroll, Maxwell Park, Washington, D.C.
- June Rodil, March, Houston, Texas
Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service
- Hastings Cameron, Imaginary Factory, Madison, Wisconsin
- Kevin Diedrich, Pacific Cocktail Haven, San Francisco, California
- Nicky Fas, Pantera, Caguas, Puerto Rico
- McLain Hedges and Mary Allison Wright, Yacht Club, Denver, Colorado
- Ivy Mix, Whoopsie Daisy, Brooklyn, New York
Best Chefs (by region)
Best Chef: California
- Dave Beran, Seline, Santa Monica
- Harrison Cheney, Sons & Daughters, San Francisco
- Sarah Cooper and Alan Hsu, Sun Moon Studio, Oakland
- Kwang Uh, Baroo, Los Angeles
- Daisy Ryan, Bell’s, Los Alamos
Best Chef: Great Lakes
- Vinnie Cimino, Cordelia, Cleveland, Ohio
- Sarah Dworak, Sudova, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Norman Fenton, Cariño, Chicago, Illinois
- Jeffery Harris, Nolia Kitchen, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Jacob Potashnick, Feld, Chicago, Illinois
Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic
- Nathan Flaim, Luca, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Jesse Ito, Royal Sushi & Izakaya, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Amanda Shulman, Her Place Supper Club, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Suresh Sundas, Tapori, Washington, D.C.
- Omar Tate and Cybille St. Aude-Tate, Honeysuckle, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Best Chef: Midwest
- Zak Baker, Ca’Lucchenzo, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
- Shigeyuki Furukawa, Kado No Mise, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Loryn Nalic, Balkan Treat Box, Webster Groves, Missouri
- Nick Bognar, Sado, Pavilion, St. Louis, Missouri
- David Utterback, Yoshitomo, Ota, Omaha, Nebraska
Best Chef: Mountain
- Johnny Curiel, Alma Fonda Fina, Denver, Colorado
- Travis Herbert, Felt Bar & Eatery, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Earl James Reynolds, Herb & Omni, Whitefish, Montana
- Penelope Wong, Yuan Wonton, Denver, Colorado
- Nick Zocco, Urban Hill, Salt Lake City, Utah
Best Chef: New York State
- Fidel Caballero, Corima, New York, New York
- Giovanni Cervantes, Carnitas Ramirez, New York, New York
- Hooni Kim, Meju, Queens, New York
- Ayesha Nurdjaja, Shukette, New York, New York
- Joshua Pinsky, Claud, New York, New York
Best Chef: Northeast
- David DiStasi, Materia Ristorante, Bantam, Connecticut
- Evan Hennessey, Stages, Dover, New Hampshire
- Thomas Takashi Cooke, Izakaya Minato, Portland, Maine
- Paul Trombly, Fancy’s, Burlington, Vermont
- Derek Wagner, Nicks on Broadway, Providence, Rhode Island
Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific
- Nathan Bentley, Altura Bistro, Anchorage, Alaska
- Johnny Courtney, Atoma, Seattle, Washington
- Thomas Pisha-Duffly, Gado Gado, Portland, Oregon
- Ryan Roadhouse, Nodoguro, Portland, Oregon
- Aaron Tekulve, Surrell, Seattle, Washington
Best Chef: South
- Ana Castro, Acamaya, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Bryce Bonsack, Rocca, Tampa, Florida
- Maria La Mota and Chason Spencer, Chancho King, Jacksonville, Florida
- Serigne Mbaye, Dakar NOLA, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Jason Paul, Heirloom at The 1907, Rogers, Arkansas
Best Chef: Southeast
- Joe Cash, Scoundrel, Greenville, South Carolina
- Mary Ellen Diaz, Alma Bea, Shepherdstown, West Virginia
- J. Trent Harris, Mujō, Atlanta, Georgia
- Taylor Montgomery, Montgomery Sky Farm, Leicester, North Carolina
- David Willocks, The Baker’s Table, Newport, Kentucky
Best Chef: Southwest
- Jeff Chanchaleune, Bar Sen, Oklahoma City, Okahoma
- Brian Howard, Sparrow + Wolf, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Steve Riley, Mesa Provisions, Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Sarah Thompson, Casa Playa, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Zack Walters, Sedalia’s, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Best Chef: Texas
- Ope Amosu, ChòpnBlọk, Houston
- Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu, JŪN, Houston
- Scott Girling, Osteria Il Muro, Denton
- Gabe Padilla and Melissa Padilla, Café Piro, Socorro
- Finn Walter, The Nicolett, Lubbock
