Local chef hits James Beard longlist

E.J. Lagasse is one of five finalists for Best Emerging Chef at the 2026 James Beard Awards, the foundation said on March 31. (jamesbeard.org) The James Beard Foundation lists Lagasse as the chef at Emeril’s in New Orleans, and winners are scheduled to be announced on June 15 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. (jamesbeard.org) Lagasse returned to New Orleans in 2022 to lead day-to-day operations at Emeril’s as chef and co-owner after training at Le Bernardin, Core by Clare Smyth and Frantzén, according to the restaurant group. (emeril.org) The nomination puts a national awards spotlight on a chef already tied to two of the biggest restaurant guidebooks. Emeril’s received two Michelin stars in the inaugural Michelin Guide American South in November 2025, and Michelin said Lagasse was the young chef overseeing the kitchen. (michelin.com) Lagasse’s name also carries a local South Coast connection. The Herald News reported on April 13 that he is the son of Emeril Lagasse, who was born in Fall River, and that the family’s Portuguese roots shaped the food at their now-closed 34 Restaurant & Bar in New Orleans. (heraldnews.com) That Portuguese project closed on January 31 after about 15 months in business, with the Emeril Group citing rising operating costs. New Orleans CityBusiness reported the restaurant had opened in fall 2024 and was a collaboration between Emeril Lagasse and E.J. Lagasse. (neworleanscitybusiness.com) Even after that closure, Emeril’s remained the family’s flagship and the restaurant most closely associated with E.J. Lagasse’s rise. The restaurant says a 2023 renovation reset the menu around updated versions of Emeril Lagasse classics and Louisiana ingredients. (emeril.org) For Fall River, the nomination lands as another Lagasse family milestone with hometown ties. For E.J. Lagasse, the next date is June 15, when the James Beard Foundation names this year’s winners in Chicago. (heraldnews.com)