Several Greater Cincinnati chefs, plus a local bar owner, have been named semifinalists in the 2026 James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards.
The Restaurant and Chef Awards is 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.
Chefs Sarah Dworak (Sudova, 22 W. Court St., Downtown), Hideki Harada (Kiki, 358 Ludlow Ave., Clifton) and Jeffrey Harris (Nolia, 1405 Clay St., Over-the-Rhine) are up for nomination in the category of Best Chef in the Great Lakes region, which covers Ohio and Indiana. And 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 these categories “set high standards in their culinary skills and leadership abilities” and are “making efforts to help create a sustainable work culture in their respective regions while contributing positively to their broader community.”
In the category for Outstanding Professionals in Cocktail Service, Mike Stankovich, who owns Longfellow (1233 Clay St., Over-the-Rhine), is also up for nomination. Stankovich made it to the nomination round in the Restaurant and Chef Awards in 2025.
“When we opened Nolia, we wanted to bring a specific piece of the South to Cincinnati—built on flavor, memory, and hard work. To be recognized on this stage once again is a tribute to our entire team and every one of you who has sat at our table. New Orleans heart, Cincinnati soul. Let’s keep going,” Harris wrote in a Facebook post.
“We are so proud to share that @vinolisa [Dworak] & Sudova are James Beard semifinalists for 2026. Truly no words can express our gratitude and excitement,” Sudova shared.
“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.