James Beard Semifinalists
Birmingham scored big: five local restaurants and chefs, including Rob McDaniel of Bottega, made the 2026 James Beard semifinalist list. Meanwhile, Chef Swetha Newcomb of Overland Park’s Of Course was named a semifinalist for Best Chef in the Midwest — both nods underline regional culinary momentum. (wvtm13.com) (kmbc.com)
Birmingham’s five semifinalists are Rob McDaniel (Bayonet) for Outstanding Chef; Kristen Hall (La Fête) for Best Chef: South; Geri‑Martha and Ryan O’Hara (Pizza Grace) for Best Chef: South; Eric Bennett (Continental Drift) for Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service; and Bottega for Outstanding Hospitality. (bhamnow.com) Rob McDaniel is a six‑time James Beard semifinalist whose restaurant Bayonet opened in 2025 and earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand plus spots on national lists in its first year. (yahoo.com) Pizza Grace’s Geri‑Martha and Ryan O’Hara purchased the pizzeria in 2025 after it was already a 2023 James Beard semifinalist, and the O’Haras are also known for founding Big Spoon Creamery. (yahoo.com) Bottega, nominated this year for Outstanding Hospitality, is Frank Stitt’s long‑running Southern‑Italian restaurant that opened in 1988 and was recognized with a Michelin Outstanding Service award this season. (yahoo.com) Swetha Newcomb of Of Course in Overland Park was named a semifinalist for Best Chef: Midwest; she opened the restaurant in 2023 and describes the menu as a fusion of South Asian flavors with Midwestern roots. (kmbc.com) The James Beard Foundation released the semifinalists on January 21, 2026, will announce finalists on March 31, 2026, and will present winners at the Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on June 15, 2026, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. (jamesbeard.org)
