The James Beard Basis launched its record of semifinalists at present for this 12 months’s Restaurant and Chef Awards. Comprising 22 classes—with each regional titles like Finest Chef: Northeast and nationwide ones like Excellent Restaurateur—the record signifies which eating places and cooks are formally within the operating to take residence one of many meals world’s most prestigious awards at a glitzy Chicago ceremony in June.
Cooks who scored a spot on Bon Appétit’s record of the Finest New Eating places of 2023 have been effectively represented on this 12 months’s record of nominees: The Senegalese tasting menu restaurant Dakar NOLA was nominated for the inspiration’s Finest New Restaurant honor; chef Lord Maynard Llera, proprietor of the Filipino restaurant Kuya Lord in LA was nominated for Finest Chef: California; and Luis Herrera of Brooklyn’s Ensenada was nominated for Finest Chef: New York State.
Although the record of nominees is usually met with pleasure, the James Beard Basis has confronted a wholesome dose of controversy over the previous few years. Basis workers raised issues in 2020 round an absence of institutional dedication to range, each inside its pool of awardees and within the demographic make-up of the inspiration’s board of trustees. In a whirlwind of chaos and controversy that quickly adopted, the inspiration canceled award ceremonies for the next two years, outwardly committing to reflection within the type of an audit and up to date award-granting procedures. Whereas the inspiration pointed to the pandemic as the primary impetus for canceling the awards, reporting within the New York Instances later revealed that not one Black chef was set to win in any of 2020’s classes, spurring inside issues in regards to the optics of holding a ceremony that 12 months.
Among the many audit suggestions, which included setting a benchmark for 50% BIPOC membership of its committee members and judges by 2023, was a brand new grievance process meant to deal with allegations of misconduct for cooks. In concept, this replace was an apparent and easy one: guarantee award winners have been performing in good religion and fostering wholesome workplaces. However vetting cooks and responding to accusations of unhealthy habits proved to be extra difficult than the inspiration had doubtless anticipated. Some cooks claimed within the leadup to 2023’s awards ceremony that they’d been disqualified on the idea of poorly substantiated claims, alleging an absence of due course of constructed into this new ethics process. The inspiration introduced no modified procedures upfront of this 12 months’s ceremony, so it’s unclear whether or not the vetting and disqualification course of has been up to date after final 12 months’s controversies.
Nonetheless, a Beard award stays a extremely sought-after accolade within the restaurant trade, and receiving one can change a chef’s profession and a restaurant’s standing in a serious method. Finalists shall be introduced on April 3, and the award ceremony is slated to happen on June 10.
Learn the total record of semifinalists under:
Excellent Restaurateur
- Ashok Bajaj, Knightsbridge Restaurant Group (Rasika, Annabelle, Sababa, and others), Washington, D.C.
- Itai Ben Eli and Itamar Levy, Sof Hospitality Group (Doris Metropolitan, Hamsa, and Bādolina Bakery & Café), Houston, TX
- Kimball Brienza and Stephen Palmer, O-Ku Sushi, Charleston, SC
- Marcos Carbajal, Carnitas Uruapan, Chicago, IL
- Bryan Chuntan and Pei Wei, Zaab Zaab and Zaab Zaab Talay, New York, NY
- Ravi DeRossi, Overthrow Hospitality (Cadence, Etérea, Avant Backyard, and others), New York, NY
- Greg Dulan, Dulan’s Soul Meals Kitchen, Hotville Rooster, and DulanVILLE, Inglewood, CA
- Laile Fairbairn, Domestically Grown Eating places (Snow Metropolis Cafe, South Restaurant + Coffeehouse, and Spenard Roadhouse), Anchorage, AK
- Michael Gallina, Tara Gallina, and Aaron Martinez, Take Root Hospitality (Vicia, Winslow’s Desk, Bistro La Floraison, and others), St. Louis, MO
- Armando Hernandez and Nadia Holguin, Cocina Chiwas and Tacos Chiwas, Tempe and Phoenix, AZ
- Robert LeBlanc, LeBlanc + Smith (Sylvain, The Chloe, The Will & The Method, and others), New Orleans, LA
- Hamissi Mamba and Nadia Nijimbere, Baobab Fare, Detroit, MI
- Nikki Ness Berglund and Ryan Nitschke, Luna Fargo, Sol Ave. Kitchen, Nova Eatery and others, Fargo, ND
- Quynh-Vy and Yenvy Pham, Phở Bắc Súp Store, Phởcific Commonplace Time, and The Boat, Seattle, WA
- Nicolas Poilevey and Oliver Poilevey, Obelix, Le Bouchon, and Taqueria Chingón, Chicago, IL
- I-Ho Pomeroy, I-Ho’s Korean Grill, Bozeman, MT
- Cara Stadler and Cecile Stadler, BaoBao Dumpling Home, Tao Yuan Restaurant, and ZaoZe Cafe & Market, Portland, ME
- Chris Viaud, Greenleaf, Ansanm, and Pavilion, Milford, NH
- Hollis Wells Silverman, Jap Level Collective (The Duck & The Peach, La Collina, The Wells, and others), Washington, D.C.
- Kelly Whitaker, Id Est Hospitality Group (The Wolf’s Tailor, BRUTØ, Basta, and others), Boulder, CO
Excellent Chef
- Oscar Amador Edo, Anima by EDO, Las Vegas, NV
- Emma Bengtsson, Aquavit, New York, NY
- Barclay Dodge, Bosq, Aspen, CO
- Jeremy Fox, Birdie G’s, Santa Monica, CA
- Francis Guzmán, Vianda, San Juan, PR
- Atsushi Hayakawa, Hayakawa, Atlanta, GA
- Rashida Holmes, Bridgetown Roti, Los Angeles, CA
- Dionicio Jiménez, Cantina La Martina, Philadelphia, PA
- David Kirkland and Ernest Servantes, Burnt Bean Co., Seguin, TX
- Dan Kluger, Loring Place, New York, NY
- Gregory León, Amilinda, Milwaukee, WI
- Sarah Minnick, Pretty’s Fifty Fifty, Portland, OR
- Sylvan Mishima Brackett, Rintaro, San Francisco, CA
- Dean Neff, Seabird, Wilmington, NC
- Daniel del Prado, Porzana, Minneapolis, MN
- Michael Rafidi, Albi, Washington, D.C.
- John Shields and Karen Urie Shields, Smyth, Chicago, IL
- Renee Touponce, The Port of Name, Mystic, CT
- David Uygur, Lucia, Dallas, TX
- Aaron Verzosa, Archipelago, Seattle, WA
Excellent Restaurant
- 2941, Falls Church, VA
- Beckon, Denver, CO
- Bywater, Warren, RI
- The Compound, Santa Fe, NM
- Comfort West, Marfa, TX
- Coracora, West Hartford, CT
- The DeBruce, Livingston Manor, NY
- The Duck Inn, Chicago, IL
- Koi Palace, Daly Metropolis, CA
- Langbaan, Portland, OR
- The Market Place, Asheville, NC
- Mixtli, San Antonio, TX
- Nancy’s Hustle, Houston, TX
- Pineapple & Pearls, Washington, D.C.
- The Restaurant at Gideon Ridge Inn, Blowing Rock, NC
- Selden Commonplace, Detroit, MI
- Superiority Burger, New York, NY
- Vestige, Ocean Springs, MS
- The Walrus and the Carpenter, Seattle, WA
- Yoshitomo, Omaha, NE
Rising Chef
- Fariyal Abdullahi, Hav & Mar, New York, NY
- Ope Amosu, ChòpnBlọk, Houston, TX
- Janet Becerra, Pancita, Seattle, WA
- Nikko Cagalanan, Kultura, Charleston, SC
- Roberto Centeno, Espiritu, Mesa, AZ
- Ki Chung, Bar Maze, Honolulu, HI
- Rocky Coronado, Nepantla, Detroit, MI
- Danielle Duran-Zecca and Alessandro Zecca, Amiga Amore, Los Angeles, CA
- Ryan Fernandez, Southern Junction, Buffalo, NY
- Yun Fuentes, Bolo, Philadelphia, PA
- Sky Haneul Kim, Reward Horse, Windfall, RI
- Emily Lim, Dabao Singapore, San Francisco, CA
- Zubair Mohajir, The Coach Home by Wazwan, Chicago, IL
- Masako Morishita, Perry’s, Washington, D.C.
- Joe Robbins, Bissell Brothers Three Rivers Kitchen, Milo, ME
- Bryce Stevenson, Miijim, La Pointe, WI
- Kenneth Wan, MAKfam, Denver, CO
- Lawrence Weeks, North of Bourbon, Louisville, KY
- Chanah Willis, Final Name Baking, Birmingham, AL
- Jeff Workman, The Campground, Kansas Metropolis, MO
Finest New Restaurant
- Ajja, Raleigh, NC
- Alkemē, Santa Fe, NM
- The Alna Retailer, Alna, ME
- Alpino, Detroit, MI
- Atelier, Chicago, IL
- Ava Bakery, Phoenix, AZ
- Bar Bacetto, Waitsburg, WA
- Barbs-B-Q, Lockhart, TX
- Barra Santos, Los Angeles, CA
- Chez Noir, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
- Consolation Kitchen, Dorchester, MA
- Dakar NOLA, New Orleans, LA
- Foul Witch, New York, NY
- Foxface Pure, New York, NY
- Hayward, McMinnville, OR
- Jūn, Houston, TX
- Kaya, Orlando, FL
- Kiln, San Francisco, CA
- Kisser, Nashville, TN
- Lita, Aberdeen Township, NJ
- Mainlander, St. Louis, MO
- My Loup, Philadelphia, PA
- Oro by Nixta, Minneapolis, MN
- Ramen Del Barrio, Austin, TX
- Sado, St. Louis, MO
- Sắp Sửa, Denver, CO
- Scoundrel, Greenville, SC
- Shan, Bozeman, MT
- Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi, New York, NY
- Tuxpan Taqueria, Central Falls, RI
Excellent Bakery
- Bobby Boy Bakeshop, Winston-Salem, NC
- Breadshop, Honolulu, HI
- The Burque Bakehouse, Albuquerque, NM
- La Casita Bakeshop, Richardson, TX
- D’Andrews Bakery & Cafe, Nashville, TN
- Gusto Bread, Lengthy Seashore, CA
- Isgro Pastries, Philadelphia, PA
- JinJu Patisserie, Portland, OR
- Koffeteria, Houston, TX
- Loba Pastry+Espresso, Chicago, IL
- Make My Cake, New York, NY
- Mel the Bakery, Hudson, NY
- Nichole’s Nice Pastry & Café, Fargo, ND
- La Pâtisserie Chouquette, Saint Louis, MO
- Pluma by Bluebird Bakery, Washington, D.C.
- Shatila Bakery, Dearborn, MI
- Desk X Bread, Salt Lake Metropolis, UT
- Vía Láctea, San Juan, PR
- Zak the Baker, Miami, FL
- ZU Bakery, Portland, ME
Excellent Pastry Chef or Baker
- Susan Bae, Moon Rabbit, Washington, D.C.
- Jesus Brazon and Manuel Brazon, Caracas Bakery, Doral and Miami, FL
- Mariela Camacho, Comadre Panadería, Austin, TX
- Ben Campbell, Ben’s Bread Co., Seattle, WA
- Tania Cienfuegos Harris, Topsoil Kitchen & Market, Vacationers Relaxation, SC
- Kristina Costa, Loquat, San Francisco, CA
- Syovata Edari, CocoVaa Chocolatier, Madison, WI
- Atsuko Fujimoto, Norimoto Bakery, Portland, ME
- Remy Funfrock, La Pâtisserie, Charleston, SC
- Marc Heu, Marc Heu Pâtisserie Paris, St. Paul, MN
- Crystal Kass, Valentine, Phoenix, AZ
- Eunji Lee, Lysée, New York, NY
- Kimmie Mcintosh and Josh Mcintosh, MILKFISH Bakeshop, Las Vegas, NV
- Camari Mick, The Musket Room, New York, NY
- Carolyn Nugent and Alen Ramos, Poulette Bakeshop, Parker, CO
- Anna Posey, Elske, Chicago, IL
- Phillip Ashley Rix, Phillip Ashley Sweets, Memphis, TN
- Nicole Rucker, Fats + Flour, Los Angeles, CA
- Stephanie Velasquez, Ema HTX, Houston, TX
- Kristina Zontini, Tremendous Secret Ice Cream, Bethlehem, NH
Excellent Hospitality
- AlTayeb Restaurant, Dearborn, MI
- Andreoli Italian Grocer, Scottsdale, AZ
- Arnaud’s, New Orleans, LA
- La Baleine Café, Homer, AK
- Bludorn, Houston, TX
- Charleston, Baltimore, MD
- Cooks & Troopers, Atlanta, GA
- Crawford and Son, Raleigh, NC
- Fiola, Washington, D.C.
- Gemma, Dallas, TX
- Giusto, Newport, RI
- Han Oak, Portland, OR
- Lazy Bear, San Francisco, CA
- Lula Cafe, Chicago, IL
- Luv2eat Thai Bistro, Los Angeles, CA
- Melba’s, New York, NY
- Pasture and Lots, Madison, WI
- Snake River Grill, Jackson, WY
- Valter’s Osteria, Salt Lake Metropolis, UT
- Woodford Meals & Beverage, Portland, ME
Excellent Wine and Different Drinks Program
- a.kitchen+bar, Philadelphia, PA
- Affäre, Kansas Metropolis, MO
- Bufalina, Austin, TX
- COTE, New York, NY
- Eight Row, Seattle, WA
- Folks, Detroit, MI
- haley.henry wine bar, Boston, MA
- The Hope Farm, Fairhope, AL
- Lula Drake Wine Parlour, Columbia, SC
- Macchialina, Miami Seashore, FL
- Center Forehead, Chicago, IL
- The Morris, San Francisco, CA
- OK Omens, Portland, OR
- Insurgent Insurgent, Somerville, MA
- Spencer, Ann Arbor, MI
- Robust Water Anaheim, Anaheim, CA
- Sunday Vinyl, Denver, CO
- Taconeta, El Paso, TX
- Tail Up Goat, Washington, D.C.
- Waxlight Bar à Vin, Buffalo, NY
Excellent Bar
- All Night time Skate, Brooklyn, NY
- Amalga Distillery, Juneau, AK
- Barr Hill Cocktail Bar, Montpelier, VT
- Bittersweet, Raleigh, NC
- Bow & Arrow Brewing Co., Albuquerque, NM
- Clavel Mezcaleria, Baltimore, MD
- Courtland Membership, Windfall, RI
- Double Rooster Please, New York, NY
- Drastic Measures, Shawnee, KS
- Edmund’s Oast, Charleston, SC
- Esters Wine Store & Bar, Santa Monica, CA
- Horn & Cantle Saloon, Massive Sky, MT
- Jewel of the South, New Orleans, LA
- Little Rituals, Phoenix, AZ
- Meteor, Minneapolis, MN
- Pacific Cocktail Haven, San Francisco, CA
- Las Ramblas, Brownsville, TX
- Scratch Brewing Firm, Ava, IL
- Service Bar, Washington, DC
- Webb’s Metropolis Cellar, St. Petersburg, FL
Finest Chef: California
- Diego Argoti, Poltergeist, Los Angeles, CA
- C-Y Chia and Shane Stanbridge, Lion Dance Cafe, Oakland, CA
- Geoff Davis, Burdell, Oakland, CA
- Azalina Eusope, Azalina’s, San Francisco, CA
- Alex Garcia and Elvia Huerta, Evil Cooks, Los Angeles, CA
- Rogelio Garcia, Auro, Calistoga, CA
- Srijith “Sri” Gopinathan, Copra, San Francisco, CA
- Dima Habibeh, Ammatoli, Lengthy Seashore, CA
- Jeong-In Hwang, San Ho Gained, San Francisco, CA
- Jihee Kim, Perilla, Los Angeles, CA
- Kristina Liedags Compton, Hilda and Jesse, San Francisco, CA
- Alfonso “Poncho” Martinez, Poncho’s Tlayudas, Los Angeles, CA
- Lord Maynard Llera, Kuya Lord, Los Angeles, CA
- Tara Monsod, Animae, San Diego, CA
- Buu “Billy” Ngo, Kru, Sacramento, CA
- Laura Ozyilmaz and Sayat Ozyilmaz, Dalida, San Francisco, CA
- Michael Procaccini and Stefano Procaccini, La Parolaccia, Lengthy Seashore, CA
- Alisa Reynolds, My 2 Cents, Los Angeles, CA
- Finn Stern, Daytrip, Oakland, CA
- Christian Yang, Yang’s Kitchen, Alhambra, CA
Finest Chef: Nice Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)
- Avishar Barua, Joya’s, Worthington, OH
- Erik Bentz and Elaine Uykimpang Bentz, Cafe Mochiko, Cincinnati, OH
- Vinnie Cimino, Cordelia, Cleveland, OH
- Diana Dávila Boldin, Mi Tocaya Antojería, Chicago, IL
- Salvador Fernandez, Bridges Craft Pizza & Wine Bar, Greencastle, IN
- Joe Fontelera, Boonie’s Filipino Restaurant, Chicago, IL
- Joe Frillman, Daisies, Chicago, IL
- Jeffery Harris, Nolia Kitchen, Cincinnati, OH
- Doug Hewitt, Freya, Detroit, MI
- Ji Hye Kim, Miss Kim, Ann Arbor, MI
- Dan Klenotic, Bellflower, Ypsilanti, MI
- BJ Lieberman, Chapman’s Eat Market, Columbus, OH
- James Martin, Bocadillo Market, Chicago, IL
- Thomas Melvin, Vida, Indianapolis, IN
- Jose Salazar, Mita’s, Cincinnati, OH
- Sujan Sarkar, Indienne, Chicago, IL
- Hajime Sato, Sozai, Clawson, MI
- Jenner Tomaska, Esme, Chicago, IL
- John Yelinek, Ladder 4 Wine Bar, Detroit, MI
- Donald Younger, Duck Sel, Chicago, IL
Finest Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)
- Carlos Aparicio, El Chingon, Philadelphia, PA
- Angel Barreto, Anju, Washington, D.C.
- Najmieh Batmanglij and Christopher Morgan, Joon, Vienna, VA
- Amy Brandwein, Centrolina, Washington, D.C.
- Tony Conte, Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana, Darnestown, MD
- Dane DeMarco, Gass & Major, Haddonfield, NJ
- Nur-E Gulshan Rahman, Korai Kitchen, Jersey Metropolis, NJ
- Keem Hughley, Bronze, Washington, D.C.
- Jesse Ito, Royal Sushi & Izakaya, Philadelphia, PA
- Matt Kern, One Coastal, Fenwick Island, DE
- Kate Lasky and Tomasz Skowronski, Apteka, Pittsburgh, PA
- Esther Lee, Obelisk, Washington, D.C.
- Travis Milton, Hickory at Nicewonder Farm and Vineyards, Bristol, VA
- Harley Peet, Bas Rouge, Easton, MD
- Randy Rucker, River Twice, Philadelphia, PA
- Yuan Tang, Rooster & Owl, Washington, D.C.
- Omar Tate, Honeysuckle Provisions, Philadelphia, PA
- Kevin Tien, Moon Rabbit, Washington, D.C.
- Bootsaba Tongdee, Pusadee’s Backyard, Pittsburgh, PA
- David Zamudio, Alma Cocina Latina, Baltimore, MD
Finest Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI)
- Sanaa Abourezk, Sanaa’s Connoisseur Mediterranean, Sioux Falls, SD
- Ann Ahmed, Khâluna, Minneapolis, MN
- Ross Bachhuber and Samuel Ek, Odd Duck, Milwaukee, WI
- Andrea Baumgardner, BernBaum’s, Fargo, ND
- Lisa Carlson and Carrie Summer time, Chef Shack Bay Metropolis, Bay Metropolis, WI
- Rob Connoley, Bulrush, St. Louis, MO
- Philip Day, Root Meals + Wine, Augusta, MO
- Chris Hoffmann, Clyde’s Nice Diner, Des Moines, IA
- Kenny Howard and Heath Shares, Anima Cucina, Bismarck, ND
- Dan Jacobs and Dan Van Ceremony, EsterEv, Milwaukee, WI
- Kyle Knall, Birch, Milwaukee, WI
- Johnny Leach, The City Firm, Kansas Metropolis, MO
- Katie Liu-Sung, Chewology, Kansas Metropolis, MO
- Romain Monnoyeur, Westport Cafe, Kansas Metropolis, MO
- Loryn Nalic, Balkan Deal with Field, Webster Groves, MO
- Christina Nguyen, Hai Hai, Minneapolis, MN
- Tim Nicholson, The Boiler Room, Omaha, NE
- Rozz Petrozz, Saltwell Farm Kitchen, Overbrook, KS
- Sean Pharr, Mint Mark, Madison, WI
- Karyn Tomlinson, Myriel, St. Paul, MN
Finest Chef: Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY)
- Joshua Adams, Campione, Livingston, MT
- Theo Adley, Marigold, Lyons, CO
- Salvador Alamilla, Amano, Caldwell, ID
- Dan Ansotegui, Ansots, Boise, ID
- Ben Barlow and Heather Logan, Stanley Supper Membership, Stanley, ID
- David Chon, Bar Nohm, Salt Lake Metropolis, UT
- Diego Coconati, Lucina Eatery & Bar, Denver, CO
- Brandon Cunningham, Social Haus, Greenough, MT
- Aminata “Ami” Dia and Rougui Dia, Le French, Denver, CO
- Charley Graham, Little Star Diner, Bozeman, MT
- Walker Hunter, Brasserie Porte Rouge, Missoula, MT
- Lee Johnson, MontAsia, Fishtail, MT
- Dave Jones, Log Haven, Salt Lake Metropolis, UT
- Jason King, King Sushi, Jackson, WY
- Bo Porytko, Molotov Kitschen + Cocktails, Denver, CO
- Ali Sabbah, Mazza Cafe, Salt Lake Metropolis, UT
- Nick Steen Gullings, Walkers Grill, Billings, MT
- Matt Vawter, Rootstalk, Breckenridge, CO
- Penelope Wong, Yuan Wonton, Denver, CO
- Nick Zocco, City Hill, Salt Lake Metropolis, UT
Finest Chef: New York State
- Nasim Alikhani, Sofreh, Brooklyn, NY
- Mary Attea, Musket Room, New York, NY
- Ayo Balogun, Dept of Tradition, Brooklyn, NY
- Clare de Boer, Stissing Home, Pine Plains, NY
- Doris Choi, Good Night time, Woodstock, NY
- Calvin Eng, Bonnie’s, Brooklyn, NY
- Aretah Ettarh, Gramercy Tavern, New York, NY
- Charles Gabriel, Charles Pan-Fried Rooster, New York, NY
- Efrén Hernández, Casa Susanna, Leeds, NY
- Luis Herrera, Ensenada, Brooklyn, NY
- JJ Johnson, FieldTrip, New York, NY
- Telly Justice, HAGS, New York, NY
- Atsushi Kono, Kono, New York, NY
- Shaina Loew-Banayan, Cafe Mutton, Hudson, NY
- Christina Mauricio, Harana Market, Accord, NY
- Charlie Mitchell, Cloverhill, Brooklyn, NY
- Scarr Pimentel, Scarr’s Pizza, New York, NY
- Jeremy Salamon, Agi’s Counter, Brooklyn, NY
- Hillary Sterling, Ci Siamo, New York, NY
- Ed Szymanski, Lord’s, New York, NY
Finest Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)
- Celia Bruns, Artemisia Cafe, Portland, ME
- Peter Carvelli, Foglia, Bristol, RI
- Tracy Chang, Pagu, Cambridge, MA
- Cara Chigazola Tobin, Honey Street, Burlington, VT
- John daSilva, Chickadee, Boston, MA
- Conor Dennehy, Tallula, Cambridge, MA
- Subat Dilmurat, Jahunger, Windfall, RI
- Ian Driscoll, Bar Futo, Portland, ME
- Patricia Estorino, Gustazo Cuban Kitchen & Bar, Cambridge, MA
- Lee Frank, Otis Restaurant, Exeter, NH
- Valerie Goldman, The Honey Paw, Portland, ME
- Cecelia Lizotte, Suya Joint, Boston, MA
- Laurence Louie, Rubato, Quincy, MA
- Maria Meza, Dolores, Windfall, RI
- Rachel Miller, Nightshade Noodle Bar, Lynn, MA
- David Standridge, The Shipwright’s Daughter, Mystic, CT
- Jake Stevens, Leeward, Portland, ME
- Micah Tavelli, Paradiso Hello-Fi, Burlington, VT
- Andy Teixeira, Newport Vineyards, Middletown, RI
- Basil Yu, Yagi Noodles, Newport, RI
Finest Chef: Northwest and Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA)
- Avery Adams, Matia Kitchen, Orcas Island, WA
- Nathan Bentley, Altura Bistro, Anchorage, AK
- Derek Bray, The Desk, Tacoma, WA
- Kristi Brown, Communion, Seattle, WA
- Grayson Corrales, MariPili Tapas Bar, Seattle, WA
- Michael Dodge, Whisky & Ramen, Anchorage, AK
- Josh Dorcak, Mas, Ashland, OR
- Gregory Gourdet, kann, Portland, OR
- Dan Koommoo, Crafted, Yakima, WA
- Andrew Le, The Pig and the Woman, Honolulu, HI
- Evan Leichtling, Off Alley, Seattle, WA
- Matthew Lightner, okta, McMinnville, OR
- Melissa Miranda, Musang, Seattle, WA
- Nae Ogawa, natuRe Waikiki, Honolulu, HI
- Jason Peel, Nami Kaze, Honolulu, HI
- Ryan Roadhouse, Nodoguro, Portland, OR
- Jeff Scheer, Marlow, Pukalani, HI
- Beau Schooler, In Bocca Al Lupo, Juneau, AK
- Sheldon Simeon, Tiffany’s, Wailuku, HI
- Peter Vuong, Ha VL, Portland, OR
Finest Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)
- Pete Amadhanirundr, Puma Yu’s, Athens, GA
- Arnaldo Castillo, Tio Lucho’s, Atlanta, GA
- Daryl Cooper and Oscar Johnson, Jimmy Pearls, Charlotte, NC
- Erika Council, Bomb Biscuits, Atlanta, GA
- Kitwanda “Kiki” Cyrus and Tyrone Cyrus, Kiki’s Rooster and Waffles, Columbia, SC
- Jamie Davis, The Hackney, Washington, NC
- Jacques Larson, The Obstinate Daughter, Sullivan’s Island, SC
- Rod Lassiter and Parnass Savang, Talat Market, Atlanta, GA
- Daris Leatherwood, Supper Membership on 2nd, Memphis, TN
- James London, Chubby Fish, Charleston, SC
- Scott MacGregor, Appalachia Kitchen, Snowshoe, WV
- Dallas McGarity, The Fats Lamb, Louisville, KY
- Trevor Moran, Locust, Nashville, TN
- Arnold Myint, Worldwide Market, Nashville, TN
- Duane Nutter, Southern Nationwide, Atlanta, GA
- Robbie Robinson, Metropolis Limits Barbeque, Cayce, SC
- Jason Sellers, Plant, Asheville, NC
- Paul Smith, 1010 Bridge, Charleston, WV
- Kanlaya “Gun” Supachana, Dalaya Thai Delicacies, Sylva, NC
- Preeti Waas, Cheeni Indian Meals Emporium, Raleigh, NC
Finest Chef: South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS, PR)
- Melissa Araujo, Alma Cafe, New Orleans, LA
- Kelsey Barnard Clark, KBC, Dothan, AL
- Jennifer Berdin and Mark Berdin, Kadence, Orlando, FL
- Valerie Chang, Maty’s, Miami, FL
- Clay Conley, Buccan, Palm Seashore, FL
- Matt Cooper, Conifer, Bentonville, AR
- Tristen Epps, Ocean Social, Miami, FL
- Hunter Evans, Elvie’s, Jackson, MS
- Ruben Guzman, Leña Eh Meals Truck, San Juan, PR
- Hardette Harris, Us Up North, Shreveport, LA
- Gabriel Hernandez, Verde Mesa, San Juan, PR
- Amarys Herndon and Jordan Herndon, Palm&Pine, New Orleans, LA
- Rob McDaniel, Helen, Birmingham, AL
- Henry Moso, Kabooki Sushi, Orlando, FL
- Carlos Portela, Orujo, San Juan, PR
- Arwen Rice, Purple or White, Cellular, AL
- Rafael Rios, Yeyo’s El Alma de Mexico, Bentonville, AR
- Sophina Uong, Mister Mao, New Orleans, LA
- Arvinder Vilkhu, Saffron, New Orleans, LA
- Marlon “Rooster” Williams, Rooster’s Kitchen, Gretna, LA
Finest Chef: Southwest (AZ, NM, NV, OK)
- Rene Andrade, Bacanora, Phoenix, AZ
- Christopher Bethoney, Campo at Los Poblanos, Albuquerque, NM
- Annamaria Brezna O’Brien, Dolina Cafe and Bakery, Santa Fe, NM
- Flavia Briones, Barista Del Barrio, Tucson, AZ
- Pornsupak “Cat” Bunnag, Glai Baan, Phoenix, AZ
- Jeff Chanchaleune, Ma Der Lao Kitchen, Oklahoma Metropolis, OK
- Alexandre Figueira, Physician Kustom, Tulsa, OK
- DJ Flores, Milpa, Las Vegas, NV
- Wendy Garcia, Tumerico, Tucson, AZ
- Josefina Garcilazo, Chope’s, La Mesa, NM
- Sam Greenhalgh, Forêt, Flagstaff, AZ
- Jordan Hawley, il seme, Tulsa, OK
- Brian Howard, Sparrow + Wolf, Las Vegas, NV
- Steve Kestler, Aroma Latin American Cocina, Henderson, NV
- Marc Quinones, Degree 5, Albuquerque, NM
- Steve Riley, Mesa Provisions, Albuquerque, NM
- Eduardo Rodriguez, Zacatlan, Santa Fe, NM
- Jacque Siegfried, Natv, Damaged Arrow, OK
- Tabb Singleton, Phat Tabb’s BBQ, Idabel, OK
- Claudio Urciuoli, Supply, Gilbert, AZ
Finest Chef: Texas
- Thomas Bille, Stomach of the Beast, Spring, TX
- Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Canje, Austin, TX
- Emmanuel Chavez, Tatemó, Houston, TX
- Mark Clayton, Squable, Houston, TX
- Christopher Cullum, Cullum’s Attaboy, San Antonio, TX
- Victoria Elizondo, Cochinita & Co., Houston, TX
- Geoff Ellis, Mum Meals Smokehouse & Delicatessen, Austin, TX
- Alexandra Gates, Cochineal, Marfa, TX
- Joseph Gomez, Con Todo, Austin, TX
- Andrew Ho, Andrew Samia, and Sean Wen, Curry Boys BBQ, San Antonio, TX
- Jennifer Hwa Dobbertin, Finest High quality Daughter, San Antonio, TX
- Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel, Birdie’s, Austin, TX
- Emiliano Marentes, Elemi, El Paso, TX
- Misti Norris, Petra & the Beast, Dallas, TX
- Fermín Nuñez, Suerte, Austin, TX
- Ana Liz Pulido, Ana Liz Taqueria, Mission, TX
- Anastacia Quiñones-Pittman, José, Dallas, TX
- Regino Rojas, Purépecha, Dallas, TX
- Arnulfo Sánchez III, Vaqueros Texas Bar-B-Q, Grapevine, TX
- Wealthy Vana, The Heritage Desk, Frisco, TX
