North Carolina's 2025 James Beard Award finalists

Driving the news: Silver Iocovozzi of Neng Jr.'s in Asheville is nominated for best chef in the Southeast.

• April Franqueza of The Dining Room at High Hampton in Cashiers, N.C., is nominated for outstanding pastry chef or baker.

Context: Popular Charlotte restaurants Supperland, Restaurant Constance and Community Matters Cafe all landed on this year's semifinalist list of the best chefs, restaurants and bars in the U.S., the James Beard Foundation announced earlier this year.

• William Dissen, the former chef-owner of Haymaker in Uptown, was also nominated for overall outstanding chef for The Market Place in Asheville.
• "It's an honor to be considered top 20 in the country," Dissen tells Axios.

Zoom out: Seven Triangle-area restaurants were semifinalists. None made it to the next round.

The big picture: All eyes are on the culinary scene in the South following the Michelin Guide's announcement Wednesday that it's expanding to Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Go deeper: Chefs react to Michelin Guide expansion into North Carolina

What's next: James Beard Award winners will be announced on Monday, June 16, in Chicago.