Rhode Island Earns 8 James Beard Award Semifinalist Nominations for 2026

Several first-timers are on the list, including Jasmine Watson of Audette, Claudine, Loma, Jayd Bun and more.

7 hours ago

Jamie Coelho,

Loma in Federal Hill. Photo courtesy of Loma.

It’s now a regular thing for Rhode Island to get its annual flowers from the James Beard Foundation. Last year, chef Sky Haneul Kim of Gift Horse won the 2025 award for Best Chef: Northeast, after Sherry Pocknett, owner of Sly Fox Den Too, won the title in 2023 (unfortunately, the restaurant closed soon after). This year, eight different Rhode Island-based chefs, restaurants, bars and professionals have earned spots on the 2026 James Beard Foundation Awards semifinalists list.

It is a first nod for Jasmine Watson, the executive chef at Audette in Newport, who is being recognized in the “Emerging Chef” category. Newcomer Claudine is up for the “Best New Restaurant” category, Loma earned recognition for “Best New Bar,” and Jesse Hedberg of Club Frills is up for “Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service.” Rhode Island has several semifinalists in the “Best Chef: Northeast” category, including Kevin O’Donnell of Giusto in Newport, Annie Parisi of Jayd Bun in South Kingstown and Derek Wagner of Nicks on Broadway, who was also a finalist last year, and appeared on the Best Chef: Northeast shortlist in 2016, 2017 and 2020.

Osetra caviar with squid ink capellini and grilled Rhode Island squid. Photo by Angel Tucker.

Oberlin, fresh off its ten-year anniversary, is also up for the “Outstanding Restaurant” category again this year, after being named a finalist last year. Chef Ben Sukle has also garnered four appearances on the long list, two of which were for representing Oberlin. He made it to the finalist list in 2018 and 2019 for Best Chef: Northeast for Oberlin, and in 2017 for birch, and as a semifinalist for birch in 2014.

The eight nominations are a great feat for the current Rhode Island restaurant scene. Let’s see what Rhode Island can do in 2026 with eight hats in the ring!

Here’s the list of Rhode Island Semifinalists:

Outstanding Restaurant: