Oakland patisserie Tarts de Feybesse, the husband-and-wife bake shop known for jewel-box fruit tarts, éclairs, and elaborate entremets, has landed on the James Beard Awards semifinalists list, giving a rare national spotlight to the city’s pastry scene. Owners and chefs Monique and Paul Feybesse are listed in the Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker category, capping a rapid rise from Vallejo pop-ups to a buzzy Uptown Oakland storefront.
What the nod means
The James Beard Foundation included Monique and Paul Feybesse on its 2026 semifinalists list in the Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker category, placing Tarts de Feybesse on a nationwide longlist that can boost bookings and profile. According to the James Beard Foundation, the Restaurant and Chef Awards longlist was published in January as the first step toward finalist announcements in March.
Local coverage
Local media did not wait long to jump on the story. Bay Area TV station KTVU aired a short segment spotlighting the nomination and the attention it brings to Oakland’s bakery scene, underscoring how rare it is for a pastry shop to get this kind of national nod. The station posted the piece today, according to KTVU.
From Vallejo pop up to Uptown storefront
Tarts de Feybesse started as a delivery and pop-up operation based in Vallejo before the Feybesses made the leap to a brick-and-mortar patisserie in Uptown Oakland last year. The shop at 324 24th Street blends classic French technique with Filipino-inflected flavors and a meticulous visual style that has turned many of its pastries into social media fixtures. The San Francisco Chronicle has detailed the bakery’s rise and its Uptown address.
Bay Area comeback and next steps
The semifinalist list also points to a broader rebound for the Bay Area this year, with multiple chefs and restaurants from the region named among the 2026 longlisted semifinalists. Coverage from SFGATE and others noted the region’s strong showing and renewed national attention.
Finalists for the Restaurant and Chef Awards will be announced on March 31, with winners to be celebrated at the James Beard Awards ceremony in Chicago on June 15. The James Beard Foundation’s awards calendar lists those dates as the next steps in the process; see the James Beard Foundation awards page for the official timeline.
For the Feybesses, the semifinalist nod marks another milestone in a short but meteoric run from home-baked pop ups to national recognition. Expect the Uptown bakery to remain a local draw as final voting moves forward.
