Western NC chef wins Best Chef: Southeast James Beard Award

Taylor Montgomery, co-founder and executive chef of Montgomery Sky Farm in Leicester, North Carolina, won the 2026 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southeast at the foundation’s annual ceremony held June 15 at the Lyric Opera in Chicago. The award recognizes exceptional culinary talent, and Montgomery’s win highlights the farm’s commitment to seasonal harvests, heirloom ingredients, and regenerative agriculture. Montgomery Sky Farm, located about 20 minutes northwest of Asheville, operates as a small-scale farm with a dining program, a weekend produce market, and a nonprofit animal rescue, Final Run Rescue. The farm’s focus on sustainability and community stewardship aligns with the James Beard Foundation’s mission to celebrate equity, sustainability, and inclusivity in the food system. This victory marks the fourth James Beard Award for Western North Carolina, following wins by Ashleigh Shanti (2025 Media Award for her cookbook), Chai Pani (2022 Outstanding Restaurant), and Cúrate (2022 Outstanding Hospitality). Montgomery Sky Farm was also a finalist for a James Beard Media Award for the documentary *The Soil Remembers*, though it did not win. Montgomery, who left traditional restaurants two years ago, expressed gratitude for the recognition, calling the honor ‘surreal’ and emphasizing the impact on his rural community. The farm’s success underscores the growing influence of small-scale, mission-driven culinary operations in the region. The James Beard Awards, often called the ‘Oscars of the food world,’ have recognized culinary excellence since 1991. This year’s ceremony included two other Western North Carolina nominees: Meherwan and Molly Irani of the Chai Pani Restaurant Group, who were nominated for Outstanding Restaurateur but did not win.