A Northern Kentucky chef been named a semifinalist in the 2026 James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards.
The Restaurant and Chef Awards are one of five recognition programs from the James Beard Foundation and one of the most prestigious culinary honors, celebrating excellence in everything from fine dining to casual eateries and emerging talents to established luminaries. Semifinalists in this program are recognized across 25 categories, including three recognizing bars and bar service professionals.
Chef David Willocks from Baker’s Table at 1004 Monmouth St. in Newport is up for nomination for Best Chef in the Southeast region, which includes Kentucky. Chefs in this category“set high standards in their culinary skills and leadership abilities,” per a press release from the organization, and are “making efforts to help create a sustainable work culture in their respective regions while contributing positively to their broader community.”
Willocks was named along with three other chefs in the Cincinnati region, learn more here.
“We are thrilled to congratulate this year’s semifinalists as we mark another major milestone — 40 years of the James Beard Foundation,” Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation, said in a press release. “For four decades, the Foundation has recognized culinary excellence while championing the independent chefs and restaurants that are vital to our communities, economy, and culture. It is an honor to celebrate the 2026 semifinalists, whose work reflects the incredible dynamism, talent, and achievement defining our industry today.”
Nominees will be announced on Tuesday, March 31, and the winners will be celebrated at an awards ceremony on Monday, June 15 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.