James Beard Award Winners & Nominees
The James Beard Awards recognize excellence in the culinary arts, food and beverage, and hospitality industries. You'll find some of the country's best talent right here in Connecticut, with several recent winners, nominees, and semifinalists representing nearly every corner of the state.
Connecticut is well-represented on the list of semifinalists for the 2026 Restaurant and Chef Awards, with six honorees:
- David Standridge of The Shipwright's Daughter in Mystic is a semifinalist in the national Outstanding Chef category. Standridge also won the Best Chef: Northeast award in 2024.
- ROLi in New Haven is a semifinalist in the national Best New Restaurant category. The modern European restaurant opened in the summer of 2025.
- Port of Call in Mystic is a semifinalist in the national Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program category. The restaurant and bar was also a 2025 semifinalist in this category.
- David DiStasi of Materia in Bantam, Bolivar Hilario of Community Table in New Preston, and Shilimat Tessema of Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant in New Haven are semifinalists in the Best Chef: Northeast category, representing chefs in the six New England states.
The James Beard Awards recognize excellence in the culinary arts, food and beverage, and hospitality industries. You'll find some of the country's best talent right here in Connecticut, with several recent winners, nominees, and semifinalists representing nearly every corner of the state.
Connecticut is well-represented on the list of semifinalists for the 2026 Restaurant and Chef Awards, with six honorees:
- David Standridge of The Shipwright's Daughter in Mystic is a semifinalist in the national Outstanding Chef category. Standridge also won the Best Chef: Northeast award in 2024.
- ROLi in New Haven is a semifinalist in the national Best New Restaurant category. The modern European restaurant opened in the summer of 2025.
- Port of Call in Mystic is a semifinalist in the national Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program category. The restaurant and bar was also a 2025 semifinalist in this category.
- David DiStasi of Materia in Bantam, Bolivar Hilario of Community Table in New Preston, and Shilimat Tessema of Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant in New Haven are semifinalists in the Best Chef: Northeast category, representing chefs in the six New England states.
The James Beard Awards recognize excellence in the culinary arts, food and beverage, and hospitality industries. You'll find some of the country's best talent right here in Connecticut, with several recent winners, nominees, and semifinalists representing nearly every corner of the state.
Connecticut is well-represented on the list of semifinalists for the 2026 Restaurant and Chef Awards, with six honorees:
- David Standridge of The Shipwright's Daughter in Mystic is a semifinalist in the national Outstanding Chef category. Standridge also won the Best Chef: Northeast award in 2024.
- ROLi in New Haven is a semifinalist in the national Best New Restaurant category. The modern European restaurant opened in the summer of 2025.
- Port of Call in Mystic is a semifinalist in the national Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program category. The restaurant and bar was also a 2025 semifinalist in this category.
- David DiStasi of Materia in Bantam, Bolivar Hilario of Community Table in New Preston, and Shilimat Tessema of Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant in New Haven are semifinalists in the Best Chef: Northeast category, representing chefs in the six New England states.
The James Beard Awards recognize excellence in the culinary arts, food and beverage, and hospitality industries. You'll find some of the country's best talent right here in Connecticut, with several recent winners, nominees, and semifinalists representing nearly every corner of the state.
Connecticut is well-represented on the list of semifinalists for the 2026 Restaurant and Chef Awards, with six honorees:
- David Standridge of The Shipwright's Daughter in Mystic is a semifinalist in the national Outstanding Chef category. Standridge also won the Best Chef: Northeast award in 2024.
- ROLi in New Haven is a semifinalist in the national Best New Restaurant category. The modern European restaurant opened in the summer of 2025.
- Port of Call in Mystic is a semifinalist in the national Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program category. The restaurant and bar was also a 2025 semifinalist in this category.
- David DiStasi of Materia in Bantam, Bolivar Hilario of Community Table in New Preston, and Shilimat Tessema of Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant in New Haven are semifinalists in the Best Chef: Northeast category, representing chefs in the six New England states.
Coracora, West Hartford
Past James Beard Honors in Connecticut
- Brian Lewis, The Cottage in Greenwich and Westport and OKO in Westport - Best Chef: Northeast nominee, 2025; Best Chef: Northeast semifinalist, 2018 and 2022
- Michelle Greenfield, Allium Eatery, Westport - Best Chef: Northeast semifinalist, 2025
- Renee Touponce, Oyster Club and Port of Call, Mystic - Outstanding Chef nominee, 2024; Best Chef: Northeast nominee, 2023
- Coracora, West Hartford - Outstanding Restaurant nominee; 2022 and 2024 Outstanding Restaurant semifinalist; 2022 Best Chef: Northeast semifinalist Macarena Ludena
- Tyler Anderson, Millwright's, Simsbury - Best Chef: Northeast semifinalist in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
- Whang Suh, Hen & Heifer, Guilford - Outstanding Pastry Chef semifinalist in 2019
- Bill Taibe, The Whelk and Kawa Ni in Westport - Best Chef: Northeast semifinalist in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015
- Jeffrey Lizotte, Present Company, Simsbury - Best Chef: Northeast semifinalist in 2017
- Dan Magill, Arethusa al tavolo, Bantam - Best Chef: Northeast semifinalist in 2016
- Shady Glen, Manchester - 2012 America's Classics Restaurant
- Community Table, New Preston - Best New Restaurant semifinalist in 2011
- Billy Grant, Bricco, West Hartford - Best Chef: Northeast semifinalist in 2008
- Jacques Pépin, Madison resident - Lifetime Achievement Award, 2005
- Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana - America's Classics Restaurant, 1999
Attractions
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