Ten Floridians have been named as semifinalists in the 2026 James Beard Awards, with Reyes Mezcaleria chef/partner Wendy Lopez as one of three nominees from Central Florida. Last year, the Orlando area boasted six nominees.
Lopez was named a semifinalist in the category of Best Chef: South, which includes Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Puerto Rico.
“This is an incredible honor to be named alongside these wonderful chefs,” Lopez says of the semifinalist nod. “All these years of devotion to this amazing craft have gotten me here. Twenty-three years later, this is only the beginning.”
Located north of downtown Orlando, Reyes Mezcaleria is part of Sue and Jason Chin’s Good Salt Restaurant Group portfolio, which includes The Monroe, The Osprey, Seito Sushi Baldwin Park and Sparrrow. The Chins were honored last year as finalists in the Outstanding Restaurateur category.
Chef Toni Elkhouri from Cedar’s Cafe in Melbourne, a family-run spot offering Lebanese fare, joins Lopez as a nominee in the Best Chef: South category.
A Mi Llorona beer, a small-batch collaboration between Reyes Mezcaleria and Tactical Brewing of Orlando, is featured with a carnitas pulled-pork taco at the restaurant in 2025. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Born & Bread Bakehouse in Lakeland was also named as a semifinalist in the Outstanding Bakery category. The establishment is known for breakfast, sandwiches and pastries, as well as for its croissants and pies.
The James Beard Awards represent the pinnacle of culinary recognition in the United States. Since their inception in 1990, the Restaurant and Chef Awards have made icons out of the nation’s top restaurant and bar professionals.
“We are thrilled to congratulate this year’s semifinalists as we mark another major milestone — 40 years of the James Beard Foundation,” said Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation, in a news release. “For four decades, the foundation has recognized culinary excellence while championing the independent chefs and restaurants that are vital to our communities, economy and culture. It is an honor to celebrate the 2026 semifinalists, whose work reflects the incredible dynamism, talent and achievement defining our industry today.”
Reyes Mezcaleria chef/partner Wendy Lopez has been named as a semifinalist in the 2026 James Beard Foundation Awards. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Here are the 10 James Beard Awards semifinalists for 2026 for Florida:
Outstanding Bakery
Born & Bread Bakehouse in Lakeland
Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program
Amara at Paraiso in Miami
Best New Bar
Bar Bucce in Miami
Best Chef: South
Michael Beltran from Ariete in Miami
Bryce Bonsack from Rocca in Tampa
Toni Elkhouri from Cedar’s Cafe in Melbourne
Maria Teresa Gallina and Nicolas Martinez from Recoveco in Miami
Barry Honan from Lotus Noodle Bar in St. Augustine
Maria La Mota and Chason Spencer from Chancho King in Jacksonville
Wendy Lopez from Reyes Mezcaleria in Orlando
Restaurant and Chef nominees will be announced on March 31, and winners will be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on June 15 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
See the complete list of semifinalists at jamesbeard.org.
Amy Drew Thompson contributed to this report.