2026 James Beard Restaurant, Chef Award finalists announced. See list
The James Beard Foundation has announced the finalists for its 2026 Restaurant and Chef Awards, with several Asheville-area chefs and restaurants making the cut. Meherwan Irani and Molly Irani of Chai Pani Restaurant Group, and Taylor Montgomery of Montgomery Sky Farm, are among the finalists, with the awards ceremony set to take place on June 15 in Chicago.
The James Beard Foundation announced its 2026 Restaurant and Chef Award finalists. Meherwan Irani and Molly Irani of Chai Pani Restaurant Group are finalists for Outstanding Restaurateur. Taylor Montgomery of Montgomery Sky Farm is a finalist for Best Chef: Southeast. The James Beard Awards recognize exceptional talent in the culinary arts. The 2026 awards ceremony will be held on June 15 in Chicago. The Chai Pani Restaurant Group has expanded across multiple states, including a second Chai Pani restaurant in Washington, D.C. Montgomery Sky Farm is a regenerative farm and livestock rescue that hosts farm-to-table harvest dinners.
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