The James Beard Foundation has unfurled its list of semifinalists today, all of which will be in consideration to win an award at the eponymous 2026 James Beard Awards. Considered one of the restaurant industry’s most prestigious honors, the award spans categories such as Restaurant and Chef Awards, Media Awards (Book, Broadcast Media, Journalism), and Achievement Awards. Last year, the foundation introduced the new category of Impact Awards, which it describes as recognizing “achievement by individuals and/or organizations who are actively working to push for standards that create a more equitable, sustainable, and economically viable restaurant industry.” Restaurant and Chef nominees will be announced on Tuesday, March 31, and winners will be announced on Monday, June 15 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago during the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony. Here are the 2026 semifinalists: 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…
