Charlotte’s James Beard Award semifinalists get passed over for 2025 finals
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Inside Charlotte’s James Beard restaurant semifinalist nominations
Meet Charlotte’s talented semifinalists who have been nominated as semifinalists for James Beard Awards in 2025.
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Every Charlotte area chef, restaurant ever nominated for a James Beard Award
Charlotte’s food and drink professionals didn’t make it to the next round in the James Beard Awards when the nominees were announced Wednesday, April 2.
Chefs Sam Diminich of Restaurant Constance and Your Farms, Your Table and Chayil Johnson of Community Matters Cafe were each nominated in the Best Chef: Southeast category.
One North Carolina chef did move on in the Best Chef: Southeast category, however: Silver Icovozzi of Neng Jr.’s in Asheville.
“It was an honor to be mentioned. And I’m very proud of the finalist that got in!” Johnson told CharlotteFive on Wednesday afternoon, just as he was about to begin teaching a culinary class at Johnson and Wales University.
Diminich said via email, “I would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the finalists advancing to the next stage of the prestigious James Beard Awards. Our entire team is truly inspired by your exceptional talent, dedication, and commitment to the values upheld by the Beard Foundation. To be recognized as a semifinalist is an incredible honor, and I am grateful to be counted among such an inspiring group of chefs and culinary professionals. Thank you to The James Beard Foundation for their continued efforts in shining a light on our industry.”
He continued: “Restaurant Constance is a true labor of love, and none of this would be possible without our incredible team, our local farming partners, and the guests who walk through our doors each day. We are grateful for the opportunity to bring people together through the power of food, and we look forward to continuing this journey alongside our community.”
Beverage director Colleen Hughes of the Tonidandel-Brown Restaurant Group was named a semifinalist in the Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service category — a distinction that’s new this year — for her work at Supperland.
She said via email, “It has been a true honor to be nominated. I’m extremely proud of the incredible team of bartenders at Supperland for helping me receive this level of recognition. My focus is now on getting Leluia Hall open and continuing to push cocktail boundaries in the city of Charlotte.”
One more North Carolina semifinalist moved on in the Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker category: April Franqueza of The Dining Room at High Hampton in Cashiers.
The awards “recognize exceptional talent and achievement in the culinary arts, hospitality, media and broader food system, as well as a demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability and a culture where all can thrive.”
Winners will be announced Monday, June 16.
Charlotte’s James Beard Award history
It’s traditionally been a tough competition for Charlotte’s top food and beverage professionals, despite their recognition as James Beard Award semifinalists. No one in the area has claimed the top prize.
Last year, Charlotte chefs Daryl “DC” Cooper and Oscar Johnson — who were named semifinalists in the James Beard Awards’ Best Chef: Southeast category for their work at Jimmy Pearls — didn’t move forward in the competition’s next round.
Chef Sam Hart of Counter- moved on to become a finalist in 2023 for his work at Biblio, but he didn’t win.
Neither did chef Greg Collier of 3rd & Fernwood and Uptown Yolk, who became Charlotte’s first finalist in 2022 for his work at Leah & Louise. Collier has three times been named a semifinalist for Best Chef: Southeast and a fourth time as Outstanding Chef.
Joe Kindred, Bruce Moffett and Paul Verica have also been among those recognized in recent years, along with Salud Cerveceria, a semifinalist for Outstanding Bar in 2022.
This story was originally published April 2, 2025 at 12:58 PM.
