Congratulations to all of this year’s James Beard semi-finalists whose work speaks for itself. We’re especially excited to see all of the amazing Black chefs and Black-owned restaurants being recognized for their endless contributions to the culinary world (as listed below). The final awardees will be announced at the ceremony in June.
If you are in their town, be sure to stop by and congratulate and also see what all the food buzz is about.
2023 JAMES BEARD RESTAURANT AND CHEF SEMI-FINALISTS
Outstanding RestaurateurChris Williams, Lucille’s Hospitality Group, Houston, TX
Clinton Gray, Derrick Moore, and Emanuel Reed, Slim & Husky’s Pizza Beeria, Nashville, TN
Greg Dulan, Dulan’s Soul Food Kitchen, Dulan’s on Crenshaw and Dulanville, Los Angeles, CA
Outstanding Restaurant
The Grey, Savannah, GA
Friday Saturday Sunday, Philadelphia, PA
Best New Restaurant
Dept of Culture, New York, NY
Outstanding Bakery
Denise’s Delicacies, Philadelphia, PA
Unforgettable Bakery & Cafe, Savannah, GA
Outstanding Chef
Nina Compton, Compère Lapin, New Orleans, LA
Greg Collier, Leah & Louise, Charlotte, NC
Emerging Chef
Elias Taddesse, Mélange, Washington, D.C.
Akino West, Rosie’s, Miami, FL
Damarr Brown, Virtue, Chicago, IL
Charlie Mitchell, Clover Hill, Brooklyn, NY
Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker
Phillip Ashley Rix, Phillip Ashley Chocolates, Memphis, TN
Kareem Queeman, Mr. Bake, Riverdale, MD
Shawn McKenzie, Café Cerés, Minneapolis, MN
Outstanding Hospitality
Melba’s, New York, NY
Best Chef: California
Michael Reed, Poppy & Seed, Anaheim, CA
Best Chef: Great Lakes
Hamissi Mamba and Nadia Nijimbere, Baobab Fare, Detroit, MI
Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic
Rahman “Rock” Harper, Queen Mother’s Fried Chicken, Arlington, VA
Peter Prime, Bammy’s, Washington, D.C.
Best Chef: New York State
JJ Johnson, FIELDTRIP, New York, NY
Charles Gabriel, Charles Pan-Fried Chicken, New York, NY
Shenarri Freeman, Cadence, New York, NY
Best Chef: Northeast
Christian Hunter, Community Table, Washington, CT
Best Chef: Texas
Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Canje, Austin, TX
Damien Brockway, Distant Relatives, Austin, TX
Jalen Heard, Lane Milne, and Jonny White, Goldee’s Barbecue, Fort Worth, TX
RELATED: Chef Andrew Black: A James Beard Nominee Builds a Brand with Promise in Oklahoma City
Best Chef: South
Lojo Washington, Queen of Sheeba, West Palm Beach, FL
Best Chef: Southeast
Stephanie Tyson, Sweet Potatoes, Winston-Salem, NC
Deborah VanTrece, Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours, Atlanta, GA
Keith Rhodes, Catch, Wilmington, NC
Best Chef: Southwest
Andrew Black, Grey Sweater, Oklahoma City, OK
For the full list of all 2023 James Beard semi-finalists, visit www.jamesbeard.org/awards.
