Which MS chefs, restaurants have earned James Beard nominations over the years? Full list
The highly anticipated 2026 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Award finalists are in, with no Mississippi nominees after both semifinalists were cut.
But that doesn’t mean the Magnolia State’s culinary scene is lacking — several chefs and restaurants have landed nominations in previous years, and two Mississippi chefs were nominated as semifinalists for 2026.
Here’s what to know about the awards in Mississippi.
What is the James Beard Awards?
Like the Oscars but for food, the annual James Beard Awards is a highly-competitive recognition program established in 1990 and representing the peak of culinary excellence in the United States.
This year’s awards ceremony will be held June 15 in Chicago, according to the James Beard Foundation.
Which MS chefs were nominated as James Beard Semifinalists for 2026?
Despite not having any Mississippi representation on the finalist list for 2026, two of the state’s chefs were named semifinalists in January.
Hunter Evans of Elvie’s in Jackson and Austin Sumrall of White Pillars in Biloxi were both named semifinalists for the Best Chefs: South category.
This was Evans’ fourth year in a row to be nominated for the category and Sumrall’s third semifinalist recognition for the category, according to Visit Mississippi.
“We are proud to see chefs like Hunter Evans and Austin Sumrall recognized on the national stage for elevating local ingredients and telling Mississippi’s story through their craft,” Rochelle Hicks, Director of Visit Mississippi, said in a statement.
Have there been other nominations in recent years?
Yes, aside from Evans and Sumrall, there have been other James Beard Award nominations in Mississippi. Here’s a list of all the nominations in the past five years, according to the foundation:
2025
- Hunter Evans, Elvie’s in Jackson, Best Chef: South Semifinalist
- Tresse Sumrall and Austin Sumrall, White Pillars in Biloxi, Best Chef: South Semifinalist
2024
- Vestige in Ocean Springs, Outstanding Restaurant Semifinalist and Nominee
- Hunter Evans, Elvie’s in Jackson, Best Chef: South Semifinalist and Nominee
2023
- Sambou’s African Kitchen in Jackson, Best New Restaurant Semifinalist
- Hunter Evans, Elvie’s in Jackson, Best Chef: South Semifinalist
- Alex Perry and Kumi Omori, Vestige in Ocean Springs, Best Chef: South Semifinalist and Nominee
2022
- Alex Perry, Vestige in Ocean Springs, Best Chef: South Semifinalist
2021
The James Beard Awards Foundation did not host an awards ceremony in 2021, instead it had a celebration for the independent restaurant community, showcasing their impact during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020
- Derek Emerson, CAET Seafood and Oysterette in Ridgeland, Best Chef: South Semifinalist
- Austin Sumrall, White Pillars in Biloxi, Best Chef: South Semifinalist
Who are the finalists for Best Chef: South?
The Best Chef: South category includes chefs from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Puerto Rico, according to the James Beard Foundation. These are the 2026 finalists:
- Ana Castro, Acamaya in New Orleans, LA
- Bryce Bonsack in Rocca, Tampa, FL
- Maria La Mota and Chason Spencer, Chancho King in Jacksonville, FL
- Serigne Mbaye, Dakar NOLA in New Orleans, LA
- Jason Paul, Heirloom at The 1907 in Rogers, AR
This story was originally published April 3, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
