Bartender Jade Ayala named finalist

Jade Ayala’s latest recognition puts a Mystic, Connecticut, bar program into the national James Beard Awards conversation. The Port of Call, where Ayala serves as beverage director, says it is a 2026 James Beard Award finalist for Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program. (theportofcallct.com) Ayala discussed the program in a May 20 profile interview published by the New Haven Register after the finalist recognition. The James Beard Foundation says the 2026 Restaurant and Chef Awards will be held on June 15 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. ### Which James Beard honor is tied to Ayala and The Port of Call? (jamesbeard.org) The Port of Call identifies itself as a “2026 James Beard Award Finalist” for Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program on its website. The James Beard Foundation’s awards program says the Restaurant and Chef Awards recognize excellence across food, beverage and hospitality. Jade Ayala is listed by The Port of Call as beverage director and as the person leading the beverage programs at both The Port of Call and Oyster Club in Mystic. The restaurant’s team page describes her as the “creative force” behind those programs. (theportofcallct.com) ### What did Ayala say after the finalist recognition? A May 20 profile interview in the New Haven Register was framed as “five questions” about Ayala’s drinks program and approach after the James Beard finalist recognition, according to the source briefing provided for this story. The interview focused on craft cocktails and operations at The Port of Call. (theportofcallct.com) The available source material confirms the interview’s publication date and subject, but not full verbatim answers from Ayala. The Register profile was cited in the briefing as the outlet where she discussed the recognition and her program. (theportofcallct.com) ### What kind of bar program does The Port of Call describe? The Port of Call says its concept is inspired by global port cities and that, in 2026, the venue is “taking you to Paris,” with French cuisine and beverage culture shaping the current menu. The restaurant also operates “Dive,” a downstairs bar it describes as a watering hole inspired by deep-sea exploration. (theportofcallct.com) Mystic-based operations are central to the setup. The Port of Call lists its address as 15 Water Street in Mystic and says Ayala’s work extends across The Port of Call and Oyster Club. (theportofcallct.com) ### What other recognition has Ayala’s program received? Esquire named The Port of Call one of its Best Bars in America in 2022, according to the venue’s website and team page. The restaurant also highlights that earlier distinction alongside its current James Beard finalist status. The Port of Call’s site also describes executive chef Renee Touponce as a James Beard Award semifinalist in 2023, adding another Beard-linked credential to the restaurant group’s public profile. (theportofcallct.com) ### When is the next James Beard milestone? (theportofcallct.com) The James Beard Foundation says winners in the 2026 Restaurant and Chef Awards will be revealed on Monday, June 15, 2026, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. The foundation’s awards page also says tickets for the ceremony are on sale. (theportofcallct.com) Chicago will host related James Beard programming that weekend, with Impact Award honorees scheduled to be acknowledged on June 14 before the Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on June 15. (jamesbeard.org) (theportofcallct.com)