Finalists for 2026 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards, often described as the “Oscars” of the food world, include one chef and one restaurateur from Maine.
Dana Street, founder of Fore Street, Scales and Standard Baking Co. in Portland, is one of five finalists for Outstanding Restaurateur.
Thomas Takashi Cooke, of the Japanese restaurant Izakaya Minato in Portland, is one of five finalists for Best Chef in the Northeast.
Five from Maine didn’t make the final cut. Sara Jenkins, of Nina June in Rockport, Jeremy Broucek of Bread & Friends in Portland, Chris Gould of Central Provisions in Portland, and Jake Stevens of Leeward in Portland were semifinalists in the Best Chef category.
Night Moves Bread of South Portland was nominated for Outstanding Bakery but did not make it to the top five in that category.
The finalists “embody exceptional talent and leadership within the independent restaurant industry,” according to the James Beard Foundation.
Winners will be revealed at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on June 15 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Recent winners from Maine include:
2024
ZU Bakery in Portland (Outstanding Bakery), Atsuko Fujimoto of Norimoto Bakery in Portland (Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker)
2023
The Quarry in Monson (Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program)
2019
Rob Tod of Allagash Brewing Company in Portland (Outstanding Wine, Spirits, or Beer Producer)
