New Orleans showed up hungry at the 2026 James Beard Awards weekend in Chicago, stacking finalist spots across major chef and restaurateur categories while a hometown writer snagged a national media prize. With multiple names in the running and one confirmed win, the city reminded everyone that its food and storytelling still punch well above their weight on the national stage.
Official nominees from New Orleans
According to the James Beard Foundation, New Orleans finalists included Ana Castro of Acamaya and Serigne Mbaye of Dakar NOLA in the Best Chef: South category, E.J. Lagasse of Emeril’s as an Emerging Chef finalist, and Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski of Link Restaurant Group as nominees for Outstanding Restaurateur. The nominees page also notes that winners would be revealed at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on Monday, June 15, 2026, capping a packed awards weekend in the Windy City.
Local media win: Upholt takes Feature Reporting
Local writer Boyce Upholt turned a nomination into a win during the James Beard Media Awards, as reported by Axios New Orleans. His Feature Reporting piece, focused on a family-run Gulf Coast restaurant, was named among this year’s Media Award winners, putting a national spotlight on regional storytelling alongside all the chef and restaurant buzz.
Why it matters for New Orleans
Nominees such as Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski, whose Link Restaurant Group runs Pêche, Herbsaint, and Cochon, reflect how longstanding institutions and newer voices work together to keep New Orleans at the center of conversations about Southern food. The company’s site notes that their restaurants span multiple neighborhoods and concepts that are now woven into the city’s culinary identity. The official winners list from the James Beard Foundation confirms which honorees walked away with awards over the weekend, underscoring that New Orleans, once again, had a seat at the national culinary table.
