Neale Asato profiled ahead of ceremony

Neale Asato, the Honolulu sherbet maker behind Asato Family Shop, was profiled this week as Hawaiʻi’s only finalist in the 2026 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards. (hawaiipublicradio.org) Hawaiʻi Public Radio said Asato is the state’s only finalist after nine local chefs reached the semifinal round earlier this year. He is nominated in the Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker category. (hawaiipublicradio.org) The James Beard Foundation announced the 2026 restaurant and chef nominees on March 31, with winners scheduled for June 15 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. (jamesbeard.org 1) (jamesbeard.org 2) Asato told Hawaiʻi Public Radio he started developing homemade sherbet and ice cream recipes after missing Maui’s Tasaka Guri Guri when his family moved back to Oʻahu. He said he first sold the desserts to friends and family before the business grew. (hawaiipublicradio.org) Aloha State Daily reported that Asato Family Shop has operated on Pali Highway for a little more than seven years, and that Asato’s Waikīkī opened late last year at the Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach Resort & Spa complex. (alohastatedaily.com) The Pali Highway shop has recently sold flavors including strawberry, pineapple and Green River, along with li hing float, pickled mango juice and passion orange guava. Aloha State Daily said some flavors had already sold out during its April visit. (alohastatedaily.com) Asato told Aloha State Daily that the business would stop Sunday retail service at the Pali Highway shop after April 12 to focus on scaling wholesale operations. He also said his wife, children, parents and siblings have all helped build the company. (alohastatedaily.com) The James Beard finalist field places Asato alongside Susan Bae of Moon Rabbit in Washington, Tavel Bristol-Joseph of Nicosi in San Antonio, Maggie Huff of Lucia in Dallas, and Justine MacNeil of Fiore in Philadelphia. (honolulumagazine.com) (bakemag.com) The run-up to the June 15 ceremony has also brought local finalist profiles elsewhere, including coverage in Connecticut of Shipwright’s Daughter chef David Standridge, a finalist for Outstanding Chef. CT Examiner reported that Standridge is the only finalist in that category with a restaurant east of the Rockies. (ctexaminer.com) For Asato, the next date is fixed: June 15 in Chicago, where a family sherbet business from Honolulu will compete for one of the restaurant industry’s top national prizes. (jamesbeard.org)