The annual James Beard Awards, widely known as the Oscars of the food world, are considered one of the top acknowledgments in the restaurant industry — and New England is having a moment.
The headline is Dana Street of Portland, Maine, whose group — Fore Street, Scales, and others — has earned an Outstanding Restaurateur nod that reflects their role in shaping the city as a dining destination. Then there’s David Standridge of the Shipwright’s Daughter in Mystic, Connecticut, who has landed in the Outstanding Chef conversation with heavy-hitters, whereas NYC’s Missy Robbins of Lilia and Kwame Onwuachi of Tatiana didn’t make that cut.
In Best Chef: Northeast, last year’s winner was Sky Haneul Kim of Gift Horse in Providence — meaning Rhode Island is back in the mix, with Derek Wagner of Nicks on Broadway in the running once again. A perennial finalist, having opened Nicks in 2002, Wagner is one of the most consistently recognized chefs in the category, a testament to his staying power as a Providence institution. He is joined by a strong cross-section of the region, from Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont – but not Boston.
Rhode Island’s bar scene is also on a roll. Providence’s Loma earned a Best New Bar finalist nod, building on the city’s cocktail scene, dovetailing fellow semifinalist Club Frills, and the community of bartenders who came up through spots like Nicks on Broadway. Rounding out the finalists: Super Secret Ice Cream in Bethlehem, New Hampshire, as a novel spin: an ice cream bakery is very 2026. And the Port of Call in Mystic adds Connecticut wine credibility to a strong New England showing.
Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages
Best Chef: Northeast (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont)
The James Beard Foundation will announce the winners during the gala at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on Monday, June 15.
Disclosure: Some Vox Media staff members are part of the voting body for the James Beard Foundation Awards.
Dining and Cooking