San Diego chefs, speakeasy named James Beard semifinalists

Zoom in: The local chefs are among 20 in the 2026 Best Chef: California category.

• Tara Monsod of Animae (downtown) and Le Coq (La Jolla) made the list for the third year in a row. She's been named a finalist twice before.
• Chef Eric Bost of Lilo, a new fine dining restaurant in Carlsbad that earned a Michelin star in 2025, was previously nominated for a 2020 James Beard Award for restaurant design.

🍸 Realm of the 52 Remedies, a Chinese apothecary-inspired speakeasy hidden inside Common Theory in Convoy, is a semifinalist for Outstanding Bar.

What's next: Finalists will be announced on March 31, and winners will be celebrated at a Chicago ceremony on June 15.