2 Birmingham chefs named 2024 James Beard Awards semifinalists

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James Beard semifinalists Chanah Willis and Rob McDaniel
Chanah Willis, owner and chef at Last Call Baking and
Rob McDaniel, owner and chef at Helen (Jacob Blankenship / Bham Now)

Two popular Birmingham chefs were named James Beard semifinalists today.

Described as the “Oscars” of the food world, the James Beard Awards were established in 1990 by the James Beard Foundation to “recognize culinary professionals for excellence and achievement in their fields and furthers the foundation’s mission to celebrate, nurture and honor chefs and other leaders making America’s food culture more delicious, diverse and sustainable for everyone.”

And the nominees are…

Who made this year’s list?

  • Chanah Willis, owner and chef at Last Call Baking —  Emerging Chef 
  • Rob McDaniel, owner and chef at Helen  — Best Chef in the South

About the Semifinalists

Bham Now is very familiar with this year’s honorees. Both Last Call Baking and Helen are only a few blocks from our downtown Morris Avenue office.

We were able to catch up with James Beard semifinalist Chanah Willis to ask them to describe how they felt earning the emerging chef recognition.

“Super elated, surprised, freaked out, and honored to even be considered. I wake up every morning to cover myself in flour and bake bread because I can’t imagine doing anything else. This nomination definitely reinforces that obsession, and I can’t be more thankful.”

Chanah Willis, owner and chef at Last Call Baking
James Beard semifinalist Rob McDaniel
Rob McDaniel, owner and chef at Helen (Jacob Blankenship / Bham Now)

Rob McDaniel is no stranger to James Beard Awards. Before he and his wife Emily opened Helen, McDaniel was named a JB Best Chef semifinalist from 2013-2017 for his work at the SpringHouse restaurant on Lake Martin.

“I’m humbled and honored to have been nominated for Best Chef: South by the James Beard Foundation.  This acknowledged wouldn’t be possible without the hard work of our dedicated staff, all of them. I represent one of the best and hardest working teams that I’ve ever had the opportunity to work with.  For all this Glory be to God!”

Rob McDaniel, owner and chef at Helen

Past Birmingham James Beard winners

Adam Evans
James Beard winner of the Best Chef in the South for 2022, Automatic Seafood and Oyster’s Adam Evans. (Caleb Chauncey/Automatic Seafood)

Birmingham is home to a number of James Beard winners. Here is the latest list.

Finalists for the 2024  awards will be announced on April 3rd and the winners will be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on June 10th.

Good luck to Chefs Willis and McDaniel! In the meantime, pay them a visit in downtown Birmingham and see firsthand why this national honor is well deserved.

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Pat Byington
Pat Byington

Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards.

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