PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Fifteen greater Philadelphia-area chefs and restaurants have been nominated for 2026 James Beard Awards.
Five Philadelphia chefs were named semifinalists in the Best Chef Mid-Atlantic category, and two from neighboring South Jersey and Delaware. They include:
• Ian Graye, Pietramala (Northern Liberties)
• Jesse Ito, Royal Sushi & Izakaya (Queen Village)
• Randy Rucker, Little Water (Center City)
• Amanda Shulman, Her Place Supper Club (Center City)
• Omar Tate and Cybille St. Aude-Tate, Honeysuckle (Spring Garden/ Poplar)
• Russ Cowan, Radin’s Delicatessen (Cherry Hill, NJ)
Dwain Kalup, La Fia (Wilmington, DE)
Other semifinalists include:
Outstanding Restaurateur:
• Greg Vernick of Vernick Philadelphia
Outstanding Restaurant:
• Kalaya (Fishtown)
Emerging Chef:
• Frankie Ramirez of Amá (Fishtown)
Best New Restaurant:
• Emmett (Fishtown)
Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker:
• Justine MacNeil of Fiore (East Kensington/ Fishtown)
Outstanding Bar:
• Lovers Bar at Friday Saturday Sunday (Center City)
Best New Bar:
• Almanac (Old City)
Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service:
• Dan Suro-Cipolloni and David Suro-Piñera of Tequilas and La Jefa (Center City)
See the full list of James Beard Award nominees here.