The James Beard Foundation revealed its list of nominees who made the cut as 2022 semifinalists, recognizing the best chefs, restaurateurs, authors, and journalists in the country. The winners will be announced during the James Beard Awards Gala in Chicago on Monday, June 13th, 2022. In the meantime, start exploring the career opportunities with this year's restaurants and chef nominees and/or discover openings on the teams of past years' winners.

Outstanding Restaurateur

• Rasika Ashok Bajaj - Knightsbridge Restaurant Group (Washington, DC)
• Kim Bartmann - Bartmann Group (Minneapolis, MN) Tratto (Phoenix, AZ)
• Jason and Sue Chin - Good Salt Restaurant Group (Orlando, FL)
• Brandon Chrostowski - EDWINS Leadership and Restaurant Institute (Cleveland, OH)
• Larry and Jessica Delgado - Delgado Collective (McAllen, TX)
• Overthrow Hospitality (New York, NY)
• Greg Dulan - Dulan's Soul Food Restaurant (Los Angeles, CA)
• Kevin Gillespie - Red Beard Restaurants (Gunshow (Atlanta, GA)
• Andrew Le - The Pig and the Lady and Piggy Smalls (Honolulu, HI)
• Marc Meyer - Vicki Freeman (New York, NY)
• Black Shoe Hospitality (Milwaukee, WI)
• Willy Ng - Koi Palace (San Francisco, CA)
• Langbaan (Portland, OR)
• Todd Richards and Joshua Lee - The Soulful Company (Lake & Oak) (Atlanta, GA)
• J.D. Simpson and Roger Yopp - SavannahBlue (Detroit, MI)
• Blue Heron Restaurant & Catering (Sunderland, MA)
• Chris Williams - Lucille's Hospitality Group (Houston, TX)
• Ellen Yin - High Street Hospitality Group (Fork (Philadelphia, PA)
• Edwin Zoe - Zoe Ma Ma and Chimera Ramen (Boulder and Denver, CO)

Outstanding Chef

• Reem Assil - Reem's (Oakland and San Francisco, CA)
• Mashama Bailey - The Grey (Savannah, GA)
• Andrew Black - Grey Sweater (Oklahoma City, OK)
• Peter Chang - Peter Chang (VA and MD)
• Austin Covert - Rosewild (Fargo, ND)
• Christopher Gross - Christopher's (Phoenix, AZ)
• Stephen Jones - The Larder + The Delta (Phoenix, AZ)
• Ji Hye Kim - Miss Kim (Ann Arbor, MI)
• Kyle Knall - Birch (Milwaukee, WI)
• Emiliano Marentes - ELEMI (El Paso, TX)
• Niki Nakayama - n/naka (Los Angeles, CA)
• Keiji Nakazawa - Sushi Sho (Honolulu, HI)
• Josh Niernberg - Bin 707 Foodbar (Grand Junction, CO)
• Alex Raij and Eder Montero - La Vara (New York, NY)
• Angie Rito and Scott Tacinelli - Don Angie (New York, NY)
• Michael Schwartz - Michael's Genuine Food & Drink (Miami, FL)
• Douglass Williams - MIDA (Boston, MA)
• Cindy Wolf - Charleston (Baltimore, MD)
• Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi - Joule (Seattle, WA)

Outstanding Restaurant

• Brennan's (New Orleans, LA)
• Butcher & Bee (Charleston, SC)
• Chai Pani (Asheville, NC)
• Cora Cora (West Hartford, CT)
• Di Fara Pizza (New York, NY)
• El Burén de Lula (Loíza, PR)
• Friday Saturday Sunday (Philadelphia, PA)
• Hell's Backbone Grill & Farm (Boulder, UT)
• La Morada (New York, NY)
• Living Kitchen Farm & Dairy (Depew, OK)
• Métier (Washington, DC)
• Mixtli (San Antonio, TX)
• Parachute (Chicago, IL)
• Paragary's (Sacramento, CA)
• Post & Beam (Los Angeles, CA)
• Odd Duck (Milwaukee, WI)
• Oriole (Chicago, IL)
• ShinBay (Scottsdale, AZ)
• Sushi Izakaya Gaku (Honolulu, HI)
• The Walrus and the Carpenter (Seattle, WA)

Emerging Chef

• Manuel "Manny" Barella - Bellota (Denver, CO)
• Angel Barreto - Anju (Washington, DC)
• Kristi Brown - Communion (Seattle, WA)
• Rochelle Daniel - Atria (Flagstaff, AZ)
• Calvin Eng - Bonnie's (New York, NY)
• Casey Felton - Bahn Oui (Los Angeles, CA)
• Shenarri Freeman - Cadence (New York, NY)
• Ben Grupe - Tempus (St. Louis, MO)
• Donald Hawk - Valentine (Phoenix, AZ)
• Cleophus Hethington - Benne on Eagle (Asheville, NC)
• Brian Hirata - Na‘'au (Hilo, HI)
• Serigne Mbaye - Dakar Nola (New Orleans, LA)
• Thuy Pham - Mama Đút (Portland, OR)
• Mia Orino and Carlo Gan - Kamayan ATL (Atlanta, GA)
• Edgar Rico - Nixta Taqueria (Austin, TX)
• Amanda Shulman - Her Place Supper Club (Philadelphia, PA)
• Amanda Turner - Olamaie (Austin, TX)
• Chris Viaud - Greenleaf (Milford, NH)
• Crystal Wahpepah - Wahpepah's Kitchen (Oakland, CA)
• David Yoshimura - Nisei (San Francisco, CA)

Best New Restaurant

• ABACÁ (San Francisco, CA)
• Angry Egret Dinette (Los Angeles, CA)
• Bacanora (Phoenix, AZ)
• BARDA (Detroit, MI)
• Café Mamajuana (Burlington, VT)
• Casian Seafood (Lafayette, CO)
• Dhamaka (New York, NY)
• Fritai (New Orleans, LA)
• Gage & Tollner (New York, NY)
• Horn BBQ (Oakland, CA)
• Kasama (Chicago, IL)
• Kimika (New York, NY)
• Laser Wolf (Philadelphia, PA)
• Leeward (Portland, ME)
• Lengua Madre (New Orleans, LA)
• MACHETE (Greensboro, NC)
• Matia Kitchen & Bar (Orcas Island, WA)
• The Marble Table (Billings, MT)
• Nani's Piri Piri Chicken (Asheville, NC)
• NiHao (Baltimore, MD) Owamni (Minneapolis, MN)
• Oyster Oyster (Washington, DC)
• Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House (San Leon, TX)
• República (Portland, OR)
• Roots Southern Table (Farmers Branch, TX)
• Sooper Secret Izakaya (Honolulu, HI)
• Union Hmong Kitchen (Minneapolis, MN)
• Ursula (New York, NY)
• Zacatlán Restaurant (Santa Fe, NM)
• Zitz Sum (Coral Gables, FL)

Outstanding Pastry Chef

• Antonio Bachour - Bachour (Coral Gables and Doral, FL)
• Nicolas Blouin - Destination Kohler (Kohler, WI)
• Warda Bouguettaya - Warda Pâtisserie (Detroit, MI)
• Mark Chacón - Chacónne Patisserie (Phoenix, AZ)
• Angela Cicala - Cicala at the Divine Lorraine (Philadelphia, PA)
• Kate Fisher Hamm - Leeward (Portland, ME)
• Michelle Karr-Ueoka - MW Restaurant (Honolulu, HI)
• Margarita Manzke - République (Los Angeles, CA)
• Claudia Martinez - Miller Union (Atlanta, GA)
• Elise Mensing - Brasserie by Niche (St. Louis, MO)
• Camari Mick - The Musket Room (New York, NY)
• Ruben Ortega - Xochi (Houston, TX)
• Shannah Primiano - Porto (Chicago, IL)
• Rabii Saber - Four Seasons (Orlando, FL)
• Caroline Schiff - Gage & Tollner (New York, NY)
• Anne Specker - Kinship (Washington, DC)
• Krystle Swenson - The Social Haus (Greenough, MT)
• Sofia Tejeda - Mixtli (San Antonio, TX)
• Jen Yee - Hopkins and Company (Atlanta, GA)

Outstanding Baker

• David Cáceres - La Panadería (San Antonio, TX)
• Maya-Camille Broussard - Justice of the Pies (Chicago, IL)
• Atsuko Fujimoto - Norimoto Bakery (Portland, ME)
• Susannah Gebhart - Old World Levain (OWL) Bakery (Asheville, NC)
• Marissa and Mark Gencarelli - Yoli Tortilleria (Kansas City, MO)
• Josephand Caroline Geragosian - Archalous (Pasadena, CA)
• Don Guerra - Barrio Bread (Tucson, AZ)
• Aaron Hall - The Local Crumb (Mount Vernon, IA)
• Mike Hirao - Nisshodo Candy Store (Honolulu, HI)
• Clement Hsu and James Wong - Katherine Campecino-Wong (San Francisco, CA)
• Nobutoshi “Nobu” Mizushima and Yuko Kawashiwo - Ihatov Bread and Coffee (Albuquerque, NM)
• Evette Rahman - Sister Honey's (Orlando, FL)
• Rhonda Saltzman and Mercedes Brooks - Second Daughter Baking Co. (Philadelphia, PA)
• Caroline Schweitzer and Lauren Heemstra - Wild Crumb (Bozeman, MT)
• Khatera Shams - Sunshine Spice Bakery & Cafe (Boise, ID)
• Zak Stern - Zak the Baker (Miami, FL)
• Elaine Townsend - Café Mochiko (Cincinnati, OH)
• Maricsa Trejo - La Casita Bakeshop (Richardson, TX)
• Louis Volle - Lodi (New York, NY)
• Pamela Vuong - The Flour Box (Seattle, WA)

Outstanding Hospitality

• BaoBao Dumpling House (Portland, ME)
• Bar del Corso (Seattle, WA)
• Binkley's (Phoenix, AZ)
• Coquine (Portland, OR)
• Cúrate (Asheville, NC)
• House of Prime Rib (San Francisco, CA)
• Hugo's (Houston, TX)
• Johnny's Restaurant (Homewood, AL)
• José (Dallas, TX)
• Lil’ Deb's Oasis (Hudson, NY)
• Mudgie's Deli and Wine Shop (Detroit, MI)
• Phoenicia (Birmingham, MI)
• The Preacher's Son (Bentonville, AR)
• Sanford (Milwaukee, WI)
• Spuntino (Denver, CO)
• Steve and Cookie’s (Margate, NJ)
• Sylvia's Restaurant (New York, NY)
• Ticonderoga Club (Atlanta, GA)
• Tutka Bay Lodge (Homer, AK)
• Valter's Osteria (Salt Lake City, UT)

Outstanding Wine Program

• a.kitchen + bar (Philadelphia, PA)
• The Four Horsemen (New York, NY)
• Frenchette (New York, NY)
• Golden Age Wine (Mountain Brook, AL)
• High Street Wine Co. (San Antonio, TX)
• Hiyu Wine Farm (Hood River, OR)
• Kai (Phoenix, AZ)
• L'Etoile (Madison, WI)
• The Little Nell (Aspen, CO)
• Lucky Palace (Bossier City, LA)
• Lyla Lila (Atlanta, GA)
• Madam (Birmingham, MI)
• Maydan (Washington, DC)
• Polo Grill (Tulsa, OK)
• The Punchdown (Oakland, CA)
• Rainbow Ranch Lodge (Gallatin Gateway, MT)
• Rebel Rebel (Somerville, MA)
• Sachet (Dallas, TX)
• Tomo (Seattle, WA)
• Vicia (St. Louis, MO)

Outstanding Bar Program

• Alley Twenty Six (Durham, NC)
• Attaboy (Nashville, TN)
• Avenue Pub (New Orleans, LA)
• Bar Leather Apron (Honolulu, HI)
• barmini by José Andrés (Washington, DC)
• Cafe La Trova (Miami, FL)
• Chapel Tavern (Reno, NV)
• Friends and Family (Oakland, CA)
• Genever (Los Angeles, CA)
• Goodkind (Milwaukee, WI)
• The Jewel Box (Portland, ME)
• Julep (Houston, TX)
• La Factoría (San Juan, PR)
• Las Almas Rotas (Dallas, TX)
• Llama San (New York, NY)
• Nobody's Darling (Chicago, IL)
• Shelby (Detroit, MI)
• Valkyrie (Tulsa, OK)
• Vicia (St. Louis, MO)
• Water Witch (Salt Lake City, UT)

Best Chef: California

• Chris Barnum-Dann - Localis (Sacramento, CA)
• Sylvan Mishima Brackett - Rintaro (San Francisco, CA)
• Val M. Cantu - Californios (San Francisco, CA)
• Keith Corbin - Alta Adams (Los Angeles, CA)
• Srijith Gopinathan - Ettan (Palo Alto, CA)
• Tony Ho - Sea Harbour Seafood Restaurant (Rosemead, CA)
• Judept Irra - Tamales Elena y Antojitos (Bell Gardens, CA)
• Brandon Jew - Mister Jiu's (San Francisco, CA)
• Matthew Kammerer - The Harbor House Inn (Elk, CA)
• Bryant Ng - Cassia (Santa Monica, CA)
• Heena Patel - Besharam (San Francisco, CA)
• Natalia Pereira - Woodspoon (Los Angeles, CA)
• Melissa Perello - Octavia (San Francisco, CA)
• Minh Phan - Phenakite (Los Angeles, CA)
• Justin Pichetrungsi - Anajak Thai (Los Angeles, CA)
• Carlos Salgado - Taco María (Costa Mesa, CA)
• Sarintip “Jazz” Singsanong - Jitlada (Los Angeles, CA)
• James Syhabout - Commis (Oakland, CA)
• Pim Techamuanvivit - Nari (San Francisco, CA)
• Anthony Wells - Juniper and Ivy (San Diego, CA)

Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)

• Omar Anani - Saffron De Twah (Detroit, MI)
• Rodolfo Cuadros - Amaru and Bloom Plant Based Kitchen (Chicago, IL)
• Diana Dávila Boldin - Mi Tocaya Antojería (Chicago, IL)
• Paul Fehribach - Big Jones (Chicago, IL)
• Jason Hammel - Lula Cafe (Chicago, IL)
• Anthony Lombardo - SheWolf (Detroit, MI)
• Hamissi Mamba and Nadia Nijimbere - Baobab Fare (Detroit, MI)
• Thomas Melvin - Vida (Indianapolis, IN)
• Dave Park - Jeong (Chicago, IL)
• Michael Ransom - ima (Detroit, MI)
• Darnell Reed - Luella’s Southern Kitchen (Chicago, IL)
• James Rigato - Mabel Gray (Hazel Park, MI)
• Jose Salazar - Salazar (Cincinnati, OH)
• Noah Sandoval - Oriole (Chicago, IL)
• Ahmad Sanji - AlTayeb (Dearborn, MI)
• John Shields and Karen Urie Shields - Smyth (Chicago, IL)
• Jill Vedaa - Salt+ (Lakewood, OH)
• Sarah Welch - Marrow (Detroit, MI)
• Erick Williams - Virtue Restaurant & Bar(Chicago, IL)
• Kate Williams - Karl's (Detroit, MI)

Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA) 

• Anthony Andiario - Andiario (West Chester, PA)
• Joey Baldino - Zeppoli (Collingswood, NJ)
• Angel Barreto - Anju (Washington, DC)
• Amy Brandwein - Centrolina (Washington, DC)
• Adam Diltz - Elwood (Philadelphia, PA)
• Antimo DiMeo - Bardea Food & Drink (Wilmington, DE)
• Melissa Hamilton and Christopher Hirsheimer - Canal House Station (Milford, NJ)
• Matt Hill - Ruthie’s All-Day (Arlington, VA)
• Bill Hoffman - The House of William & Merry (Hockessin, DE)
• Jesse Ito - Royal Izakaya (Philadelphia, PA)
• Kate Lasky and Tomasz Skowronski - Apteka (Pittsburgh, PA)
• Wei Lu - China Chalet (Florham Park, NJ)
• Cristina Martinez - South Philly Barbacoa (Philadelphia, PA)
• Peter Prime - Cane (Washington, DC)
• Carlos Raba - Clavel Mezcaleria (Baltimore, MD)
• Michael Rafidi - Albi (Washington, DC)
• Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon - Kalaya Thai Kitchen (Philadelphia, PA)
• Yuan Tang - Rooster & Owl (Washington, DC)
• Wei Zhu - Chengdu Gourmet (Pittsburgh, PA)
• Bethany Zozula - 40 North at Alphabet City (Pittsburgh, PA)

Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI) 

• Dane Baldwin - The Diplomat (Milwaukee, WI)
• Karen Bell - Bavette La Boucherie (Milwaukee, WI)
• Daniel Bonanno - A Pig in a Fur Coat (Madison, WI)
• Rob Connoley - Bulrush (St. Louis, MO)
• Jorge Guzmán - Petite León (Minneapolis, MN)
• Michael Haskett - M.B. Haskett Delicatessen (Sioux Falls, SD)
• Dan Jacobs and Dan Van Rite - EsterEv (Milwaukee, WI)
• Mary Kastman - Driftless Cafe (Viroqua, WI)
• Anthony Kueper - Dolce (Omaha, NE)
• Gregory León - Amilinda (Milwaukee, WI)
• Rachel McGill - DISH Restaurant (Lincoln, NE)
• Ryan Nitschke - Luna Fargo (Fargo, ND)
• Craig Rivard - Little Fox (St. Louis, MO)
• Kevin Scharpf - Brazen Open Kitchen | Bar (Dubuque, IA)
• Sean Sherman - Owamni (Minneapolis, MN)
• Erik Skaar - Vann (Spring Park, MN)
• Evy Swoboda - Brasserie by Niche (St. Louis, MO)
• Carl Thorne-Thomsen - Story. (Prairie Village, KS)
• Yia Vang - Union Hmong Kitchen (Minneapolis, MNN)
• Ben Welch - Botanica (Wildwood, MO)

Best Chef: Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY)

• Saibeen Acord - Saibeen's Kitchen (Great Falls, MT)
• Salvador Alamilla - Amano (Caldwell, ID)
• Dan Ansotegui - Ansots (Boise, ID)
• Jose Avila - El Borrego Negro (Denver, CO)
• Mike Blocher and David Barboza - Nick Fahs (Salt Lake City, UT)
• Cody Cheetham - Tavernetta (Denver, CO)
• Logen Crew and Paul Chamberlain - SLC Eatery (Salt Lake City, UT)
• Caroline Glover - Annette (Aurora, CO)
• Briar Handly - Handle (Park City, UT)
• Suchada Johnson - Teton Thai (Teton Village, WY)
• Kris Komori - KIN (Boise, ID)
• Chris Lockhart - PREROGATIvE Kitchen (Red Lodge, MT)
• Chris McDonald - Cowfish (Lander, WY)
• Mawa McQueen - Mawa's Kitchen (Aspen, CO)
• Brian Menges - The 2nd Street Bistro (Livingston, MT)
• Paul Naugle - Izakaya Three Fish (Bozeman, MT)
• Dana Rodriguez - Work & Class (Denver, CO)
• Eric Skokan - Black Cat Farm Table Bistro (Boulder, CO)
• Luis Young - Penrose Room (Colorado Springs, CO)
• Dave Wells - The Tasting Room at Chico Hot Springs Resort & Day Spa (Pray, MT)

Best Chef: New York State

• Einat Admony - Balaboosta (New York, NY)
• Mary Attea - The Musket Room (New York, NY)
• Albert and Malenda Bartley - Top Taste (Kingston, NY)
• Amanda Cohen - Dirt Candy (New York, NY)
• Nick Curtola - The Four Horsemen (New York, NY)
• Eric Gao - O Mandarin (Hartsdale and Hicksville, NY)
• JJ Johnson - FIELDTRIP (New York, NY)
• Gabe McMackin - Troutbeck (Amenia, NY)
• Helen Nguyen - Saigon Social (New York, NY)
• Ayesha Nurdjaja - Shuka (New York, NY)
• Chintan Pandya - Dhamaka (New York, NY)
• Kyo Pang - Kopitiam (New York, NY)
• Junghyun Park - Atomix (New York, NY)
• Carla Perez-Gallardo and Hannah Black - Lil' Deb's Oasis (Hudson, NY)
• Erik Ramirez - Llama Inn (New York, NY)
• Romeo Regalli - Ras Plant Based (New York, NY)
• Irwin Sánchez - Under the Volcano (New York, NY)
• Bryce Shuman - Sweetbriar (New York, NY)
• Hillary Sterling - Ci Siamo (New York, NY)
• Dale Talde - Goosefeather (Tarrytown, NY)

Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)

• Bowman Brown - Elda (Biddeford, ME)
• Vien Dobui - CÔNG TỬ BỘT (Portland, ME)
• Patricia Estorino - Gustazo Cuban Kitchen & Bar (Waltham and Cambridge, MA)
• Tiffani Faison - Orfano (Boston, MA)
• Jeff Fournier - Thompson House Eatery (Jackson, NH)
• Daniel Gursha - Ledger (Salem, MA)
• Tico Huynh - Yvonne's (Cambridge, MA)
• Ben Jackson - Magnus on Water (Biddeford, ME)
• Jeremy Kean and Philip Kruta - Brassica Kitchen + Cafe (Boston, MA)
• Christian Kruse - Black Flannel Brewing Company (Essex Junction, VT)
• Brian Lewis - The Cottage (Westport, CT)
• Courtney Loreg - Woodford Food and Beverage (Portland, ME)
• Macarena Ludena - Cora Cora (West Hartford, CT)
• Nisachon Morgan - Saap (Randolph, VT)
• Cassie Piuma - Sarma (Somerville, MA)
• William Rietzel - COAST (Watch Hill, RI)
• Damian Sansonetti - Chaval (Portland, ME)
• John DaSilva - Chickadee (Boston, MA)
• David Schrier - Jessica Pollard and David Clegg (Easthampton, MA)
• David Vargas - Vida Cantina (Portsmouth, NH)

Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA) 

• Nathan Bentley - Altura Bistro (Anchorage, AK)
• Nick Coffey - Ursa Minor (Lopez Island, WA)
• Erasto Jackson - Lil Red’s Takeout and Catering (Seattle, WA)
• Jonathan Jones - Epilogue Kitchen & Cocktails (Salem, OR)
• Liz Kenyon - Rupee Bar (Seattle, WA)
• Carlo Lamagna - Magna Kusina (Portland, OR)
• Robynne Maii - Fête (Honolulu, HI)
• Melissa Miranda - Musang (Seattle, WA)
• David Nichols - Eight Row (Seattle, WA)
• Vince Nguyen - Berlu (Portland, OR)
• Brandon Pettit - Delancey (Seattle, WA)
• Thomas Pisha-Duffly - Oma's Hideaway (Portland, OR)
• Mark Pomaski - Moon & Turtle (Hilo, HI)
• Beau Schooler - In Bocca Al Lupo (Juneau, AK)
• Sheldon Simeon - Tin Roof (Kahului, HI)
• Mutsuko Soma - Kamonegi (Seattle, WA)
• Robert Urquidi - Ethel's Grill (Honolulu, HI)
• Jojo Vasquez - Fond (Lahaina, HI)
• Aaron Verzosa - Archipelago (Seattle, WA)
• Chad White - Zona Blanca (Spokane, WA)

Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)

• Katie Button - Cúrate (Asheville, NC)
• Greg Collier - Leah & Louise (Charlotte, NC)
• Mike Costello and Amy Dawson - Lost Creek Farm (Lost Creek, WV)
• Oscar Diaz - The Cortez (Raleigh, NC)
• Sunny Gerhart - St. Roch Fine Oysters + Bar (Raleigh, NC)
• Jake Howell - Peninsula (Nashville, TN)
• Philip Krajeck - Rolf and Daughters (Nashville, TN)
• Cheetie Kumar - Garland (Raleigh, NC)
• Anthony Lamas - Seviche (Louisville, KY)
• Jason Liang - Brush Sushi Izakaya (Decatur, GA)
• Ouita Michel - Holly Hill Inn (Lexington and Versailles, KY)
• Ricky Moore - SALTBOX Seafood Joint (Durham, NC)
• Orlando Pagán - Wild Common (Charleston, SC)
• Craig Richards - Lyla Lila (Atlanta, GA)
• Alison Settle - Barn8 (Goshen, KY)
• Peyton Smith - Mission Pizza Napoletana (Winston-Salem, NC)
• Stephanie Tyson - Sweet Potatoes (Winston-Salem, NC)
• Aaron Vandemark - Panciuto (Hillsborough, NC)
• Joey Ward - Southern Belle and Georgia Boy (Atlanta, GA)
• Mailea Weger - Lou (Nashville, TN)

Best Chef: South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS, PR) 

• Blake Aguillard and Trey Smith - Saint-Germain (New Orleans, LA)
• Michael Beltran - Ariete (Coconut Grove, FL)
• Valerie and Fernando Chang - Nando (Miami, FL)
• Clay Conley - Buccan (Palm Beach, FL)
• Adam Evans - Automatic Seafood and Oysters (Birmingham, AL)
• Jeremy Ford - Stubborn Seed (Miami, FL)
• Hao Gong - LUVI Restaurant (New Orleans, LA)
• Francis Guzmán - Vianda (San Juan, PR)
• Timothy Hontzas - Johnny’s Restaurant (Homewood, AL)
• Melissa M. Martin - Mosquito Supper Club (New Orleans, LA)
• Matthew McClure - The Hive (Bentonville, AR)
• Abel Mendoza - Estela (Rincón, PR)
• Henry Moso - Kabooki Sushi (Orlando, FL)
• Michael Nelson - GW Fins (New Orleans, LA)
• Niven Patel - Ghee Indian Kitchen (Kendall, FL)
• Alex Perry - Vestige (Ocean Springs, MS)
• Michael Pirolo - Macchialina (Miami, FL)
• Allison Richard - High Hat Cafe (New Orleans, LA)
• Rafael Rios - Yeyo's (Bentonville, AR)
• Isaac Toups - Toups’ Meatery (New Orleans, LA)

Best Chef: Southwest (AZ, NM, NV, OK) 

• Matthew Amberg - Oren (Tulsa, O