James Beard finalists named

The James Beard Foundation has named its 2026 restaurant and chef finalists, putting Whitefish chef Earl Reynolds and New Orleans chef E.J. Lagasse on this year’s national list. (jamesbeard.org) Reynolds, the executive chef at Herb and Omni in downtown Whitefish, is a finalist in Best Chef: Mountain, a regional category that covers chefs in states including Montana, Colorado and Utah. KPAX reported April 13 that it is the second time in his career he has reached finalist status, after a 2023 run while leading Stone Hill Kitchen and Bar in Bigfork. (jamesbeard.org) (kpax.com) Lagasse is a finalist for Emerging Chef, a national award the foundation gives to a chef it says shows “exceptional talent, character, and leadership ability” and is likely to have a significant impact. The five 2026 finalists in that category are Fátima Juárez of Komal in Los Angeles, Lagasse of Emeril’s in New Orleans, Rasheeda Purdie of Ramen by Ra in New York, Bailey Sullivan of Monteverde Restaurant and Pastificio in Chicago, and Adrian Torres of Maximo in West University Place, Texas. (jamesbeard.org 1) (jamesbeard.org 2) The finalists were announced March 31, and the winners are scheduled to be revealed June 15, 2026, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. The James Beard Foundation says the Restaurant and Chef Awards have been presented since 1990 and recognize chefs, restaurateurs and restaurants across the United States. (jamesbeard.org 1) (jamesbeard.org 2) The awards are one of the few national honors that mix regional chef races with nationwide categories such as Outstanding Chef, Outstanding Restaurant and Emerging Chef. That structure lets a Montana chef like Reynolds compete within a Mountain-region field while Lagasse appears in a single five-person national category. (jamesbeard.org 1) (jamesbeard.org 2) For Reynolds, the nomination extends a run that has made Herb and Omni part of a broader push to put northwest Montana on the fine-dining map. KPAX reported that Reynolds, a Whitefish native, builds a New American menu around ingredients from local farmers and ranchers and said he wants to represent “this part of Montana through the food.” (kpax.com) For Lagasse, the nomination adds a James Beard nod to a fast-rising career at one of New Orleans’ best-known restaurants. A USA Today Network report published April 13 said Lagasse became the youngest chef to lead a kitchen with two Michelin stars at Emeril’s at age 22 and now serves as chef and co-owner there. (usatoday.com) The foundation says its awards now emphasize not only cooking but also equity, community and sustainability across the food system. That language has become a bigger part of the Beard program in recent years as the group has reshaped how it defines excellence in restaurants and hospitality. (jamesbeard.org) (jamesbeard.org) The next date that matters is June 15 in Chicago, when Reynolds, Lagasse and the rest of the 2026 finalists find out who takes home the medals. (jamesbeard.org)