Jan 21, 2026 - Food and Drink

These are New Orleans' 2026 James Beard semifinalists

Chelsea Brasted

A wooden table is set with gumbo, potato salad and fried eggplant. — Saint Claire's delicately fried eggplant is served with a drizzle of honey and rosemary. Melissa Martin's gumbo is on the menu, too. Photo: Chelsea Brasted/Axios

Nine New Orleans-area businesses are among this year's James Beard Foundation semifinalists.

Why it matters: The so-called Oscars of the food world recognize the industry's best and can catapult a business into stardom.

Catch up quick: New Orleans restaurants received 13 nods from the foundation last year, but only one went on to be named a nominee.

Here are New Orleans' James Beard semifinalists for 2026:

Outstanding restaurateur: Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski, Link Restaurant Group (Pêche Seafood Grill, Herbsaint, Cochon, and others)
Emerging chef: E.J. Lagasse of Emeril's
Best new restaurant: Evviva and Saint Claire
Outstanding bakery: Bywater Bakery
Outstanding professional in beverage service: Braithe Gill of Brennan's
Best chef: South: Ana Castro of Acamaya, Serigne Mbaye of Dakar NOLA and Charly Pierre of Fritai

Worth noting: Beyond New Orleans' boundaries, semifinalists include Wild Child Wines in Lafayette for outstanding bar semifinalists, and Parish's Cory Bahr in Monroe for Best Chef: South.

What's next: Anonymous judges will whittle down the list of semifinalists to a select group of nominees.

Nominees are invited to a June ceremony in Chicago, where winners are announced.

Go deeper: See the full list of semifinalists.

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These are New Orleans' 2026 James Beard semifinalists

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