INSIDE THE RESTAURANT. YOU MIGHT BE COMING HERE JUST TO ORDER OFF THE MENU, BUT NOW RESTAURANT JOSEPHINE HERE IN AUBURN IS GAINING NATIONAL ATTENTION AS A 2026 SEMIFINALIST FOR THE JAMES BEARD AWARD. ERIKA CARQUINEZ RAISING A TOAST. MAY I POUR YOU SOME MORE WINE? THE CO-OWNERS OF RESTAURANT JOSEPHINE ARE IN THE SPOTLIGHT. VERY GOOD. EXCELLENT. GLAD YOU GUYS ARE ENJOYING. I TOLD ERIC, MY HUSBAND. I SAID, IS THIS REAL? AND THEN WE GOOGLED IT AND IT WAS. AND SO THAT’S HOW WE FOUND OUT A NOMINATION. MANY CUSTOMERS AND REGULARS, ALL OF AUBURN, HEARD ABOUT THE NOMINATION. WE’RE GOING TO TAKE THIS TO TABLE TEN, ARE CALLING. WELL DESERVED. THE JAMES BEARD NOMINATION IS SUCH AN HONOR AND I FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE EARNED IT WHOLEHEARTEDLY. AUBURN IS GOING CRAZY BECAUSE THEY’RE JUST THE MOST DESERVING PEOPLE. SO HUMBLE. AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THEY’RE HERE EVERY DAY. THEY’RE OPEN. ERIC AND COURTNEY ARE JUST THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE, AND THEY’RE SO DESERVING OF THIS AWARD. EVEN AFTER YEARS OF DINING HERE, THIS GROUP OF FRIENDS STILL CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF IT. IT’S NOT THE KIND OF PLACE THAT’S GOING TO GO OUT OF STYLE IN A COUPLE OF YEARS. THEIR MENU IS SOMETHING THAT IS ENDURING, AND ALSO JUST THE VIBE THAT YOU HAVE HERE, BUT IT ALL COMES BACK TO THE CREATIONS IN THE KITCHEN. THEY’VE BEEN VERY POPULAR. THEY GOT MAKING THEM JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY NOW, A REFLECTION OF FRENCH CUISINE. BE BIRTHDAY TO SEAT TWO, ONE PLATE AT A TIME. WE ARE A FRENCH BISTRO MOSTLY, BUT WE DO HAVE A LOT OF EASTERN EUROPEAN INFLUENCE ON OUR MENU. THAT COMES FROM MY HUSBAND’S LITHUANIAN HERITAGE. SO WE WORK THAT INTO OUR OUR FRENCH FOUNDATION, RESTAURANT AND CHEF NOMINEES WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON MARCH 31ST IN AUBURN. I’M ANAHITA JAFARY KCRA THREE NEWS. AND IN CASE YOU DIDN’T KNOW, THE JAMES BEARD AWARDS ARE CONSIDERED THE OSCARS OF THE FOOD INDUSTRY. PAST NOMINEES IN OUR AREA INCLUDE. FRANK FAT’S THE CO-OWNE
Auburn’s Restaurant Josephine co-owners earn James Beard nomination
Restaurant Josephine in Auburn, known for its French-inspired cuisine, has been named a 2026 James Beard Award semifinalist, bringing national recognition to co-owners Courtney McDonald and Eric Alexander.
Updated: 10:27 PM PST Jan 23, 2026
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Restaurant Josephine in Auburn, celebrated for its French-inspired cuisine, has gained national attention as a 2026 James Beard Award semifinalist, highlighting the culinary talents of its co-owners.Courtney McDonald, co-owner of Restaurant Josephine, expressed her disbelief upon learning of the nomination. “I told Eric, my husband, I said, ‘Is this real?’ And then we googled it, and it was and so that’s how we found out,” she said.The news of the nomination has resonated throughout Auburn, with many customers expressing their excitement and support. Heather Mauel, a regular customer at the restaurant, said, “All of Auburn heard about the nomination.”Jessica Campbell, another customer, emphasized the significance of the recognition. “The James Beard nomination is such an honor, and I feel like they have earned it wholeheartedly,” she said.”Auburn is going crazy because they’re just the most deserving people,” Mauel added. “So humble and they’re here every day they’re open. Eric and Courtney are just the most beautiful people, and they’re so deserving of this award.”Despite years of dining at Restaurant Josephine, customers like Amber Pool continue to be drawn to its enduring menu and atmosphere. “It’s not the kind of place that’s going to go out of style in a couple of years. Their menu is something that is enduring, and also just the vibe that you have here, the decor, everything about it. We’re going to keep coming here. It’s not something that you’re going to expect to fizzle out anytime.” Pool said.The restaurant’s culinary creations, deeply rooted in French cuisine with Eastern European influences, remain a central attraction. “We are a French bistro, mostly, but we do have a lot of Eastern European influence on our menu. That comes from my husband’s Lithuanian heritage. So we work that into our French foundation,” McDonald said.The James Beard Awards, often referred to as the Oscars of the food industry, will announce the Restaurant and Chef nominees on March 31. Past nominees from the area include Paragary’s, Frank Fat’s, the co-owner of Binchoyaki, and the founder of Kru.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
AUBURN, Calif. —
Restaurant Josephine in Auburn, celebrated for its French-inspired cuisine, has gained national attention as a 2026 James Beard Award semifinalist, highlighting the culinary talents of its co-owners.
Courtney McDonald, co-owner of Restaurant Josephine, expressed her disbelief upon learning of the nomination.
“I told Eric, my husband, I said, ‘Is this real?’ And then we googled it, and it was and so that’s how we found out,” she said.
The news of the nomination has resonated throughout Auburn, with many customers expressing their excitement and support.
Heather Mauel, a regular customer at the restaurant, said, “All of Auburn heard about the nomination.”
Jessica Campbell, another customer, emphasized the significance of the recognition.
“The James Beard nomination is such an honor, and I feel like they have earned it wholeheartedly,” she said.
“Auburn is going crazy because they’re just the most deserving people,” Mauel added. “So humble and they’re here every day they’re open. Eric and Courtney are just the most beautiful people, and they’re so deserving of this award.”
Despite years of dining at Restaurant Josephine, customers like Amber Pool continue to be drawn to its enduring menu and atmosphere.
“It’s not the kind of place that’s going to go out of style in a couple of years. Their menu is something that is enduring, and also just the vibe that you have here, the decor, everything about it. We’re going to keep coming here. It’s not something that you’re going to expect to fizzle out anytime.” Pool said.
The restaurant’s culinary creations, deeply rooted in French cuisine with Eastern European influences, remain a central attraction.
“We are a French bistro, mostly, but we do have a lot of Eastern European influence on our menu. That comes from my husband’s Lithuanian heritage. So we work that into our French foundation,” McDonald said.
The James Beard Awards, often referred to as the Oscars of the food industry, will announce the Restaurant and Chef nominees on March 31. Past nominees from the area include Paragary’s, Frank Fat’s, the co-owner of Binchoyaki, and the founder of Kru.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
Dining and Cooking