James Beard semifinalists shine
The 2026 James Beard semifinalist list elevated a clutch of Midwestern names — including Milwaukee spots like 1033 Omakase, The Mothership, and restaurateurs Vanessa Rose and Zak Baker — while the Southwest spotlighted Danny Calleros of Ardovino’s Desert Crossing as a Best Chef semifinalist. The nominations are giving unexpected regional programs a national spotlight. (bizjournals.com) (elpasoinc.com)
The James Beard Foundation published its 2026 Restaurant and Chef semifinalist list on Jan. 21, 2026, with final nominees set for March 31 and winners to be celebrated June 15 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. (jamesbeard.org)) Twelve Wisconsin chefs and restaurants made the 2026 semifinalist list, including six entries from the Milwaukee area and additional nominees from Door County, Madison and Appleton. (jsonline.com)) 1033 Omakase is listed on the Best New Restaurant long list and operates at 1033 S. 1st Street in Milwaukee’s Walker’s Point neighborhood. (fox6now.com)) Milwaukee’s cocktail program The Mothership appears on the Outstanding Bar semifinalist list for 2026. (fox6now.com)) Vanessa Rose is a semifinalist in the Emerging Chef category after opening her Bay View restaurant Mother’s as a brick-and-mortar in June 2025 following a pop-up run. (milwaukeemag.com)) Goodkind chefs Paul Zerkel and Lisa Kirkpatrick were named to the Best Chef: Midwest long list alongside other Milwaukee-area chefs. (fox6now.com)) Danny Calleros of Ardovino’s Desert Crossing in Sunland Park, N.M., earned a Best Chef: Southwest semifinalist nod; Ardovino’s is a family‑owned property dating to 1949 and sits near Mount Cristo Rey. (kfoxtv.com)) Ardovino’s executive kitchen makes pastas, breads and pizza dough in-house and the venue hosts farmers markets on its property, practices cited as part of Chef Calleros’s local profile. (pizzatoday.com))
