The James Beard Awards just announced their 2026 semifinalists and a Richmond chef is finallyin the running.
Why it matters: This is the first time since 2020 that any Richmond chef or restaurant garnered a nod from the prestigious James Beard Foundation.
State of play: The Beards are like the Oscars for the American hospitality industry, and even making the semis is a big deal. (As is being snubbed by them year after year.)
- And Richmond’s losing streak is finally done.
Zoom in:Leah Branch at The Roosevelt is a semifinalist for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic…