The James Beard Awards are some of the most prestigious accolades in food. They celebrate individual chefs, beverage pros and bakers plus hospitality teams, restaurants, bars and bakeries.
Last year's awards were monumental for Arizona, as 12 chefs and restaurants were named semifinalists and Phoenix chef Rene Andrade took home the title as the best chef in the Southwest region. Andrade is known for his restaurants Bacanora and Huarachis which celebrate his Sonoran roots and heritage.
This year, that number has grown even more, with 15 chefs, bakers, bars and restaurants spread throughout the state making the semifinalist list.
As this year's semifinalists celebrate Wednesday's news, they'll also be looking forward to the upcoming finalist round and awards ceremony. The finalists will be announced on April 2 and the winners will be crowned in Chicago on June 16.
Chilte chef and co-owner Lawrence "LT" Smith is a James Beard Award semifinalist for Emerging Chef.
Carolina Useche
Arizona's 2025 James Beard Award semifinalists
Emerging Chef - Lawrence "LT" Smith of Chilte, PhoenixBest New Restaurant - Santo Arcadia, Phoenix
Outstanding Bakery - Patisserie Jacqui, Bisbee
Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker:
- Antonia Kane of COURSE, Scottsdale
- Crystal Kass of Valentine, Phoenix
Outstanding Hospitality - Kai, Gila River Indian Community
Outstanding Bar - Little Rituals, Phoenix
Best New Bar - Kid Sister, Phoenix
Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service - Jax Donahue of Carry On, Phoenix
Best Chef: Southwest (AZ, NM, NV, OK):
- Jose Contreras of Amelia's Mexican Kitchen, Tucson
- Donald Hawk of Valentine, Phoenix
- Stephen Jones of The Larder & The Delta, Phoenix
- Bernie Kantak of Beginners Luck, Scottsdale
- Yotaka Martin of Lom Wong, Phoenix
- Cory Oppold of COURSE, Scottsdale
Racking up the accolades
Many of the semifinalists this year are no strangers to the James Beard Awards. For pastry chef Crystal Kass of Melrose District eatery Valentine, 2025 marks the third year in a row that she’s been named a semifinalist. In 2024, she advanced to become a finalist. This year, she has a chance to go all the way.Jax Donahue, of the buzzy downtown Phoenix cocktail bar Carry On, has been recognized previously by drinks-focused organizations. Prior to joining the plane-themed Carry On, the mixology pro was the beverage director at Barter & Shake Cocktail Entertainment. The company runs UnderTow, Grey Hen RX and Platform 18, three bars that reside under one roof in Arcadia. In 2023, the concept was named one of the 50 best bars in North America.
And since Cory Oppold opened his fine dining eatery COURSE in 2023, he’s racked up local and national praise. The concept is more serious in the evenings, but takes a fun turn on Sunday mornings with the multi-course bunch menu called Morning Would. The brunch displays Oppold’s culinary prowess and adds a heavy dose of nostalgia and fun.
Phoenix’s food and drinks scene has exploded in the past few years, and continues to level up at every turn. It’s a rising tide that is being reflected throughout the state. With 15 Arizona names on the semifinalist list, the James Beard Awards are certainly taking note.
