New restaurant Bayonet from Rob and Emily McDaniel next door to their restaurant Helen on 2nd Ave N. Staff portraits, food, interiors, bathrooms and other details. — New restaurant Bayonet from Rob and Emily McDaniel next door to their restaurant Helen on 2nd Ave N. (Art Meripol)

Birmingham restauranteurs and chefs garnered five 2026 James Beard Awards semi-finalist nominations this morning.

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 James Beard Awards nominees from Alabama are…

Who made this year’s list?

Outstanding Chef: Rob McDaniel, Bayonet, Birmingham, AL
Best Chef (South): Kristen Hall, La Fête, Birmingham, AL
Best Chef (South): Geri-Martha O’Hara and Ryan O’Hara, Pizza Grace, Birmingham, AL
Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service: Eric Bennett, Continental Drift, Birmingham, AL
Outstanding Hospitality: Bottega, Birmingham, AL

In addition to the Birmingham establishments, Jim Smith from The Hummingbird Way in Mobile, AL was nominated for Best Chef South.

Alabama James Beard Award winners

Alabama has produced several James Beard Award winners over the years, including Highland Bar and Grill in the “Best Restaurant in the U.S.” category.

Past winners in Birmingham include:

Automatic Seafood and Oysters Chef Adam Evans – Best Chef: South (2022)
Highlands Bar & Grill — Outstanding Restaurant (2018)
Dolester Miles, Highlands Bar & Grill — Outstanding Pastry Chef (2018)
Hot and Hot Fish Club, Chef Chris Hastings — Best Chef: South (2012)
Bright Star in Bessemer — American Classic (2010)
Highlands Bar & Grill Chef Frank Stitt — Best Chef: Southeast (2001)

More than a dozen Birmingham-based restaurants and bars have been nominated over the years. Last year, Jose Medina Camacho, the owner of Adios, was a finalist for New Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service category.

Will a Birmingham restaurateur take home a James Beard Award in 2026?. We’ll know more this spring when the finalists are named on Monday, March 31.

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