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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Localize It is a reporting resource produced by The Associated Press for its customers’ use. Questions can be directed to the Local News Success team at localizeit@ap.org.

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

STARKE, Fla. (AP) — A man convicted of fatally shooting a man and his girlfriend during a home invasion robbery was put to death Thursday evening in a record 19th execution in Florida this year.

Frank Athen Walls, 58, was pronounced dead at 6:11 p.m. following a three-drug injection at Florida State Prison near Starke. Walls was convicted of two counts of murder, two counts of kidnapping, burglary and theft and sentenced to death in 1988. The Florida Supreme Court later reversed the conviction and ordered a new trial, and Walls was again convicted and sentenced to death in 1992.

Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Republican who signed the death warrant, has ordered more executions in a single year than any Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in the U.S. in 1976. The previous state record was eight executions in 2014. DeSantis said earlier this year that his goal is to bring justice to victims’ families who have waited decades for the death sentences to be carried out.

Court records indicate Walls broke into the Florida Panhandle mobile home of Eglin Air Force Base airman Edward Alger and his girlfriend, Ann Peterson, in July 1987. Walls tied the couple up, but Alger managed to break free and attack Walls. Walls cut Alger’s throat and then shot him in the head when the airman continued to fight. Walls then attacked Peterson and shot her as she struggled.

Walls was arrested the day after the bodies were found when his roommate tipped off police about Walls’ odd behavior. During a search of the home, investigators reported finding items from the crime scene, and Walls later admitted to the killings.

After Walls' conviction, DNA evidence linked him to the May 1987 rape and killing of a woman, Audrey Gygi. Walls pleaded no contest, avoiding another trial and possible death sentence. Walls also admitted responsibility for the killings of Tommie Lou Whiddon in March 1985 and Cynthia Sue Condra in September 1986 as part of a deal with prosecutors.

The U.S. Supreme Court denied Walls’ request for a stay of execution on Thursday afternoon. Earlier in the day, Walls met with one visitor as well as a spiritual adviser and had a meal of steak, chicken and cheesecake, authorities said.

Including Walls, a total of 47 men have died by court-ordered execution so far this year in the U.S., and more than a dozen other people are scheduled to be put to death in 2026. Florida has executed more people than any other state this year, followed by Alabama, South Carolina and Texas with five each.

All Florida executions are carried out by an injection using a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the state Department of Corrections.

Follow David Fischer on the social platform Bluesky: ‪@dwfischer.bsky.social‬

This undated photo provided by the Florida Department of Corrections shows Frank Athen Walls. (Florida Department of Correction via AP)