LOCALIZE IT: The James Beard Awards are next week. See the finalists in your state

EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS:

The culinary world’s equivalent of the Oscars will be announcing winners later this month — 25 categories of restaurants, chefs and others will be feted at the ceremony for the James Beard Awards June 16 in Chicago.

The James Beard Foundation established the awards in 1990 and has bestowed them since 1991, except in 2020 and 2021 when the organization scrapped them as the restaurant industry was reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Restaurants apply for the awards. Judges, who mostly remain anonymous, try the cuisine before voting. Nominees are reviewed for the food as well as for a behavioral “code of ethics,” including how employees are treated.

This guide will be updated with the winners next week.

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FIND YOUR STATE: JAMES BEARD NOMINEES

We’ve broken out by state the nominees for all categories including Outstanding Restaurateur, Outstanding Chef, Outstanding Restaurant, Emerging Chef, Best New Restaurant, Outstanding Bakery, Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker, Outstanding Hospitality, Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program, Outstanding Bar, Best New Bar, Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service, Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service and Best Chefs by region.

There are also nominees listed for Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. View all nominees here along with a a list of people receiving various achievement awards. You can view the previously published list of semifinalists here. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Chicago on June 16.

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ALABAMA

Jose Medina Camacho, Adiõs, Birmingham, AL — Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service

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ALASKA

Beau Schooler, In Bocca Al Lupo, Juneau, AK — Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA)

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ARIZONA

Crystal Kass, Valentine, Phoenix, AZ — Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker

Yotaka Martin, Lom Wong, Phoenix, AZ — Best Chef: Southwest (AZ, NM, NV, OK)

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ARKANSAS

Matthew Cooper, Conifer, Bentonville, AR — Best Chef: South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS, PR)

Rafael Rios, Yeyo’s El Alma de Mexico, Bentonville, AR — Best Chef: South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS, PR)

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CALIFORNIA

Daisy Ryan and Greg Ryan, Companion Hospitality (Bell’s, Bar Le Cote, Priedite BBQ, and others), Los Alamos, CA — Outstanding Restaurateur

Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski, The Anchovy Bar, State Bird Provisions, and The Progress, San Francisco, CA — Outstanding Restaurateur

Gusto Bread, Long Beach, CA — Outstanding Bakery

Harbor House Inn, Elk, CA — Outstanding Hospitality

Strong Water, Anaheim, CA — Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program

Jacob Brown, Lazy Bear, San Francisco, CA — Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service

Tobin Shea, Redbird, Los Angeles, CA — Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service

Daniel Castillo, Heritage Barbecue, San Juan Capistrano, CA — Best Chef: California

Richard Lee, Saison, San Francisco, CA — Best Chef: California

Tara Monsod, ANIMAE, San Diego, CA — Best Chef: California

Kosuke Tada, Mijoté, San Francisco, CA — Best Chef: California

Jon Yao, Kato, Los Angeles, CA — Best Chef: California

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COLORADO

Josh Niernberg, Bin 707 Foodbar, Grand Junction, CO — Outstanding Chef

Penelope Wong, Yuan Wonton, Denver, CO — Best Chef: Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY)

Frasca Food and Wine, Boulder, CO — Outstanding Restaurant

Alma Fonda Fina, Denver, CO — Best New Restaurant

Carolyn Nugent and Alen Ramos, Poulette Bakeshop, Parker, CO — Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker

McLain Hedges and Mary Allison Wright, Yacht Club, Denver, CO — Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service

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CONNECTICUT

Brian Lewis, The Cottage, Westport, CT — Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)

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FLORIDA

Sue Chin and Jason Chin, Good Salt Restaurant Group (Seito Sushi, Reyes Mezcaleria, The Osprey, and others), Orlando, FL — Outstanding Restaurateur

Ômo by Jônt, Winter Park, FL — Best New Restaurant

ViceVersa, Miami, FL — Best New Bar

Nando Chang, Itamae AO, Miami, FL — Best Chef: South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS, PR)

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GEORGIA

Aria, Atlanta, GA — Outstanding Hospitality

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HAWAII

Dave Newman, Pint + Jigger, Honolulu, HI — Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service

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IDAHO

Salvador Alamilla, Amano, Caldwell, ID — Best Chef: Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY)

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KANSAS

Georges French Bistro, Wichita, KS — Outstanding Restaurant

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ILLINOIS

Galit, Chicago, IL — Outstanding Restaurant

Kumiko, Chicago, IL — Outstanding Bar

Thai Dang, HaiSous, Chicago, IL — Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)

Chris Jung and Erling Wu-Bower, Maxwells Trading, Chicago, IL — Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)

Noah Sandoval, Oriole, Chicago, IL — Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)

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KENTUCKY

Noam Bilitzer, MeeshMeesh Mediterranean, Louisville, KY — Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)

Sara Bradley, freight house, Paducah, KY — Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)

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LOUISIANA

Kaitlin Guerin, Lagniappe Bakehouse, New Orleans, LA — Emerging Chef

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MARYLAND

Charleston, Baltimore, MD — Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program

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MASSACHUSETTS

Cassie Piuma, Sarma, Somerville, MA — Outstanding Chef

Merai, Brookline, MA — Best New Bar

Erin Miller, Urban Hearth, Cambridge, MA — Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)

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MICHIGAN

Jennifer Blakeslee and Eric Patterson, The Cooks’ House, Traverse City, MI — Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)

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MINNESOTA

Bûcheron, Minneapolis, MN — Best New Restaurant

Bar Brava, Minneapolis, MN — Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program

Shigeyuki Furukawa, Kado no Mise, Minneapolis, MN — Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI)

Diane Moua, Diane’s Place, Minneapolis, MN — Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI)

Karyn Tomlinson, Myriel, St. Paul, MN — Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI)

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MISSOURI

Jane Sacro Chatham, Vicia, St Louis, MO — Emerging Chef

Loryn Nalic, Balkan Treat Box, Webster Groves, MO — Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI)

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MONTANA

The Union, Helena, MT — Best New Restaurant

Joshua Adams, Campione, Livingston, MT — Best Chef: Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY)

Brandon Cunningham, The Social Haus, Greenough, MT — Best Chef: Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY)

David Wells, The Tasting Room at Chico Hot Springs Resort & Day Spa, Pray, MT — Best Chef: Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY)

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NEBRASKA

David Utterback, Ota and Yoshitomo, Omaha, NE — Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI)

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NEVADA

Cristie Norman, Delilah, Las Vegas, NV — Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service

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NEW HAMPSHIRE

Super Secret Ice Cream, Bethlehem, NH — Outstanding Bakery

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NEW JERSEY

Dan Richer, Razza, Jersey City, NJ — Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)

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NEW MEXICO

Campo at Los Poblanos, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM— Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program

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NEW YORK

Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr, Frenchette, Le Veau d’ Or, and Le Rock, New York, NY — Outstanding Restaurateur

Gabriel Kreuther, Gabriel Kreuther, New York, NY — Outstanding Chef

Jungsik Yim, Jungsik, New York, NY — Outstanding Chef

Penny, New York, NY — Best New Restaurant

Atomix, New York, NY — Outstanding Hospitality

Cassandra Felix, Daniel, New York, NY — Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service

Ignacio “Nacho” Jimenez, Superbueno, New York, NY — Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service

Nasim Alikhani, Sofreh, Brooklyn, NY — Best Chef: New York State

Ryan Fernandez, Southern Junction Barbecue, Buffalo, NY — Best Chef: New York State

Eiji Ichimura, Sushi Ichimura, New York, NY — Best Chef: New York State

Atsushi Kono, Kono, New York, NY — Best Chef: New York State

Vijay Kumar, Semma, New York, NY — Best Chef: New York State

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NORTH CAROLINA

April Franqueza, The Dining Room at High Hampton, Cashiers, NC — Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker

Silver Iocovozzi, Neng Jr.’s, Asheville, NC — Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)

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NORTH DAKOTA

Nikki Berglund and Ryan Nitschke, Luna Fargo, Sol Ave. Kitchen, Nova Eatery and others, Fargo, ND — Outstanding Restaurateur

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OHIO

Mike Stankovich, Longfellow, Cincinnati, OH — Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service

David Jackman, Wildweed, Cincinnati, OH — Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)

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OKLAHOMA

Lisa Becklund, FarmBar, Tulsa, OK — Outstanding Chef

Nonesuch, Oklahoma City, OK — Outstanding Restaurant

Cat Cox, Country Bird Bakery, Tulsa, OK — Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker

Olivier Bouzerand, Fait Maison, Edmond, OK — Best Chef: Southwest (AZ, NM, NV, OK)

Zack Walters, Sedalia’s Oyster & Seafood, Oklahoma City, OK — Best Chef: Southwest (AZ, NM, NV, OK)

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OREGON

Coquine, Portland, OR — Outstanding Restaurant

JinJu Patisserie, Portland, OR — Outstanding Bakery

Scotch Lodge, Portland, OR — Outstanding Bar

Joshua Dorcak, MÄS, Ashland, OR — Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA)

Ryan Roadhouse, Nodoguro, Portland, OR — Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA)

Timothy Wastell, Antica Terra, Amity, OR — Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA)

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PENNSYLVANIA

Phila Lorn, Mawn, Philadelphia, PA — Emerging Chef

Fet-Fisk, Pittsburgh, PA — Best New Restaurant

The Lovers Bar at Friday Saturday Sunday, Philadelphia, PA — Outstanding Bar

Jesse Ito, Royal Sushi & Izakaya, Philadelphia, PA — Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)

Amanda Shulman, Her Place Supper Club, Philadelphia, PA — Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)

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PUERTO RICO

Identidad Cocktail Bar, San Juan, PR — Best New Bar

Kevin Garcia, La Faena AgroCocina, Guaynabo, PR — Best Chef: South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS, PR)

Angel David Moreno Zayas, El Gallo Pinto, Guayama, PR — Best Chef: South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS, PR)

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RHODE ISLAND

Oberlin, Providence, RI — Outstanding Restaurant

Nikhil Naiker, NIMKI, Providence, RI — Emerging Chef

Sky Haneul Kim, Gift Horse, Providence, RI — Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)

Derek Wagner, Nicks on Broadway, Providence, RI — Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)

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SOUTH CAROLINA

Robbie Robinson, City Limits Barbeque, West Columbia, SC — Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)

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TENNESSEE

Jake Howell, Peninsula, Nashville, TN — Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)

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TEXAS

RJ Yoakum, Georgie, Dallas, TX — Emerging Chef

Ema, Houston, TX — Best New Restaurant

Mābo, Dallas, TX — Best New Restaurant

Starship Bagel, Dallas and Lewisville, TX — Outstanding Bakery

Mixtli, San Antonio, TX — Outstanding Hospitality

MARCH, Houston, TX — Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program

Bar Colette, Dallas, TX — Best New Bar

Arjav Ezekiel, Birdie’s, Austin, TX— Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service

Thomas Bille, Belly of the Beast, Spring, TX — Best Chef: Texas

Emmanuel Chavez, Tatemó, Houston, TX — Best Chef: Texas

Emil Oliva, Leche de Tigre, San Antonio, TX — Best Chef: Texas

Regino Rojas, Purépecha, Dallas, TX — Best Chef: Texas

Michael Anthony Serva, Bordo, Marfa, TX — Best Chef: Texas

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UTAH

Water Witch, Salt Lake City, UT — Outstanding Bar

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VERMONT

Allison Gibson and Cara Tobin, Honey Road and Gray Jay, Burlington, VT — Outstanding Restaurateur

Wolf Tree, White River Junction, VT — Outstanding Bar

Avery Buck, May Day, Burlington, VT — Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)

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WASHINGTON

Atoma, Seattle, WA — Best New Restaurant

Archipelago, Seattle, WA — Outstanding Hospitality

Jay Blackinton, Houlme, Orcas Island, WA — Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA)

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WASHINGTON, D.C.

Scott Drewno and Danny Lee, The Fried Rice Collective (Anju, Chiko, and I Egg You), Washington, D.C. — Outstanding Restaurateur

Mita, Washington, D.C. — Best New Restaurant

Susan Bae, Moon Rabbit, Washington, D.C. — Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker

Henji Cheung, Queen’s English, Washington, D.C. — Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)

Carlos Delgado, Causa and Amazonia, Washington, D.C. — Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)

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WISCONSIN

Agency, Milwaukee, WI — Best New Bar

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WYOMING

Atelier Ortega, Jackson Hole, WY — Outstanding Bakery

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Chef Phila Lorn and Rachel Lorn work in their restaurant, Mawn, in Philadelphia, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

HAVANA (AP) — The Spanish hotel chain Meliá said Tuesday it will completely shutter its operations in Cuba, dealing a blow to the tourism industry on the Caribbean island grappling with strict sanctions and an energy blockade imposed by the United States.

A statement from the company said the decision, which will go into effect on Friday, was sue to “the significant operational, legal, economic and financial difficulties that have persistently affected, and continue to affect, the environment" in Cuba.

Cuba's tourism industry was formerly an engine of the country's economy. Meliá's decision follows new sanctions announced by the U.S. on July 13 blacklisting Cuba’s Ministry of Tourism, the business partner of more than a dozen hotels that the hotel chain still operated on the island.

The chain had previously suspended management of 15 hotels it operated through an agreement with a tourism agency run by GAESA, a Cuban military-business conglomerate that was sanctioned by the U.S. in May. The company has now completely withdrawn its business from Cuba.

Meliá once owned 34 five-star hotels in Cuba, primarily in Havana, the country's capital, and idyllic locations such as the Varadero resort and the main keys. It was also a highly symbolic chain for the island, following the opening of tourism in the Caribbean nation after the collapse of the Soviet Union more than 35 years ago.

U.S. measures against companies operating in Cuba include freezing their assets and seizing their accounts in the U.S. — meaning they can no longer operate in the U.S. financial market — and also travel bans for their shareholders, investors and employees.

The U.S. ramped up pressure on the island following the capture of Venezuela's then-President Nicolás Maduro in January, seeking the fall of the Cuban government and changes to its political and economic model. It also implemented an energy embargo that has exacerbated a pre-existing crisis.

The result has been daily blackouts lasting more than 20 hours, medicine shortages pushing the healthcare system to the brink, a collapsed water supply and paralyzed transportation.

Meliá’s departure demonstrates the resounding impact of U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies, which are “methodically and systematically closing every source of foreign currency for the Cuban government,” Paolo Spadoni, an associate professor in the Department of Social Sciences at Augusta University in Georgia, told The Associated Press.

Tourism has plummeted with the withdrawal of major chains — such as the Spanish Iberostar and the Canadian Royalton — as well as the cancellation of flights to Cuba by airlines like World2Fly, Air France and Iberia.

This year, tourism arrivals in Cuba are down 48% compared to the same period in 2015, totaling just 298,000.

Follow AP’s Latin America coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

An antique car drives past the Melia Habana Hotel in Havana, Cuba, Tuesday, July 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

An antique car passes the Melia Habana Hotel in Havana, Cuba, Tuesday, July 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)