James Beard semifinalist chef Rob McDaniel and his wife Emily will open their upscale seafood restaurant in downtown Birmingham in early March. Bayonet, which is directly adjacent to Helen, will open March 10. While their restaurant Helen is known for its contemporary Southern cuisine, Bayonet is a spirited raw bar and seafood concept.

Cincinnati chef nominated for James Beard Award one year after opening 'The Aperture'

America’s Classics honors “locally owned restaurants that have timeless appeal” — and mark the real start of Beards season

Among the six honorees from across the country is the oldest Black-owned barbecue restaurant in Chicago, Lem’s Bar-B-Q.

A fixture on the island for 114 years, it's one of only six restaurants nationwide and the only one in Texas to receive the 2025 America's Classics Award.

Dooky Chase's Restaurant is among six winners of the James Beard Foundation's America's Classics award. America's Classics awards recognize independent restaurants, particularly long-standing ones, that are notable contributors to their community's food, culture and traditions.

The James Beard Foundation Awards, considered the Oscars of the U.S. culinary community, have three phases. The first is the naming of semifinalists, also known as the long list, which is where we are at. The shortlist of finalists, or nominees, will be announced April 2. Winners are revealed at a ceremony in Chicago on June 10.

The South Side staple is getting some national recognition from the James Beard Foundation — for its food and its role in the community. Noel Brennan reports.