Mar 31, 2026 | 10:50 am
Austin technically doesn’t appear in the next round of the 2026 James Beard Awards, but it lends one of its best chefs to San Antonio, where he’s making a big impact. Chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph, part of the Austin-based Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group, is a finalist nominee for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker for his San Antonio restaurant Nicosi.
Here are all of the nominees in the national categories:
- Emerging Chef: Adrian Torres, Maximo (Houston)
- Best New Restaurant: Agnes and Sherman (Houston)
- Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service: June Rodil, March (Houston)
- Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker: Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Nicosi (San Antonio)
- Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker: Maggie Huff, Lucia (Dallas)
- Outstanding Restaurateur: Hugo Ortega and Tracy Vaught, H-Town Restaurant Group (Houston)
- Outstanding Restaurant: Mixtli (San Antonio)
The nominees for Best Chef: Texas include three people from Houston. Here are all of the nominees in the category:
- Ope Amosu, ChòpnBlọk (Houston)
- Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu, JŪN (Houston)
- Scott Girling, Osteria il Muro (Denton)
- Gabe Padilla and Melissa Padilla, Cafe Piro (Socorro)
- Finn Walter, The Nicolett (Lubbock)
Along with the finalist announcement for its Restaurant and Chef Awards, the James Beard Foundation announced that the Houston-based Southern Smoke Foundation will be an Impact Award honoree. According to the foundation, the Impact Awards “recognize achievements by individuals and/or organizations who are actively working to push for standards that create a more equitable, sustainable, and economically viable restaurant industry and food system for producers, workers, and consumers alike.”
In the semifinalist round, Houston led the way among Texas cities with 12 nominations. Austin earned nine nominations, followed by eight in Dallas and seven in San Antonio…