Six Alabama chefs and one restaurant have been announced as semifinalists for the 2026 James Beard Awards, one of the food and beverage world’s most prestigious honors. The James Beard Foundation announced its restaurant and chef semifinalists today. The semifinalists from Alabama are:

The James Beard Awards just announced their 2026 semifinalists and a Richmond chef is finally in the running. Why it matters: This is the first time since 2020 that any Richmond chef or restaurant garnered a nod from the prestigious James Beard Foundation.