The James Beard Foundation announced the semifinalists for the prestigious James Beard Awards, recognizing the top food talent in the US, and three Triangle chefs + restaurants were named among the cream of the crop.
Peregrine, Best New Restaurant
If you haven’t heard Patrick Shanahan’s name around town, you must not be listening. Shanahan is a filmmaker, artist, and hospitality entrepreneur behind Watts & Ward, Capulet Cocktail Club, and Eater Carolina’s Best New North Carolina Restaurant, Peregrine. With chef Saif Rahman, this cuisine-combining eatery features favorites like Bengali wedding chicken, and Suya mushroom.
Steven Devereaux Greene, Herons, Best Chef: Southeast
Herons has long been a staple in the Triangle’s fine dining scene, and chef Steven Devereaux Greene has earned a semifinalist nod in 2016, 2017, 2019, and now, 2026. Green’s nomination is coming on the heels of a Michelin recommendation and being named one of the best hotel restaurants in the country.
Cheetie Kumar, Ajja, Best Chef: Southeast
Chef Cheetie Kumar is no stranger to the James Beard awards — she was nominated for this same award five times for her work at the now-shuttered Garland, and Ajja got a 2024 Best New Restaurant nod. Now, Kumar is back with a nomination for Ajja, the vibrant Mediterranean spot in Five Points.
Previous Triangle winners
In 2022, Ricky Moore from Durham’s Saltbox Seafood Joint won Best Chef: Southeast, and Ashley Christensen won for Poole’s in 2014. Plus, in 2019, Christensen won the overall Outstanding Chef award.
Finalists will be announced on March 31, and winners will be celebrated during at a June ceremony in Chicago. Psst... there are plenty more nominated restaurants worth taking a short road trip for, including several in Asheville and Charlotte — check out the full list.
