Discover New England Chefs, Restaurants Nominated for 2026 James Beard Awards
The James Beard Foundation released its 2026 Restaurant and Chef Award nominees on Wednesday. The slate is slimmer than the semifinalist list shared in January.
New England fared well overall. Every state except Massachusetts has at least one nominee.
Regional roundup
Massachusetts had several semifinalists in January. None advanced to the final nominee list this time.
Winners will be revealed on June 15 during the annual gala in Chicago.
Notable nominees from New England
- Outstanding Restaurateur: Dana Street, owner of Fore Street, Scales, and Standard Baking Co., Portland, Maine.
- Outstanding Chef: David Standridge, The Shipwright’s Daughter, Mystic, Connecticut.
- Outstanding Bakery: Super Secret Ice Cream, Bethlehem, New Hampshire.
- Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program: The Port of Call, Mystic, Connecticut.
- Best New Bar: Loma, Providence, Rhode Island.
Best Chef: Northeast nominees
- 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.
The Shipwright’s Daughter and The Port of Call both represent Connecticut. Super Secret Ice Cream is the New Hampshire bakery nominee.
Food professionals and fans can use resources such as Discover New England Chefs to explore these kitchens. The list highlights Restaurants Nominated for 2026 James Beard Awards across the region.
What happens next
Final winners will be announced at the Chicago gala on June 15. The awards will honor chefs, restaurateurs, bakers, and beverage programs.
Reporting on this round of nominees was initially shared by Katelyn Umholtz, a food and restaurant reporter and author of the newsletter The Dish. Filmogaz.com adapted those details for this regional summary.
