Alabama’s 5 James Beard Award nominees miss out on 2024 finals

Alabama’s 5 James Beard Award 2024 Semi-finalists did not move forward to the “finals stage” for this year’s award ceremony.

The Oscars for foodie enthusiast

Known as the “Oscars” of the food world, the James Beard Awards recognizes the top culinary professionals and restaurants in the field.  

Alabama was well-represented in January when the James Beard Foundation named four chefs, from Birmingham, Mobile and Dothan and a Fairhope restaurant as semi-finalists.

The Alabama honorees included:

• Chanah Willis, owner and chef at Last Call Baking in Birmingham — Emerging Chef 
• Rob McDaniel, owner and chef at Helen in Birmingham — Best Chef: South
• Arwen Rice, Executive Chef at Red or White in Mobile — Best Chef: South 
• Kelsey Barnard Clark, chef at KBC in Dothan — Best Chef: South
• The Hope Farm in Fairhope — Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program

Alabama, a James Beard favorite

Over the years, several beloved Birmingham chefs and restaurants have won the prestigious James Beard Award. 

In fact, our chefs and restaurants have been so successful Alabama Tourism has incorporated them in their national advertising campaigns. 

Who has won James Beard Foundation Awards in Alabama? Here is the honor roll.

• Automatic Seafood and Oysters Chef Adam Evans – Best Chef: South (2022)
• Highlands Bar & Grill — Outstanding Restaurant (2018)
• Dolester Miles, Highlands Bar & Grill — Outstanding Pastry Chef (2018)
• Hot and Hot Fish Club, Chef Chris Hastings — Best Chef: South (2012) 
• Bright Star in Bessemer — American Classic (2010)
• Highlands Bar & Grill Chef Frank Stitt — Best Chef: Southeast (2001)

Is there a future James Beard Award winner amongst us in Alabama? Tag us @bhamnow to tell us your favorite chef or restaurant that needs to be considered and why they missed the mark by not naming this year’s semi-finalists as finalists.