Here Are the 2022 James Beard Foundation Award Semifinalists From Across the Carolinas

It’s awards season again: Today, the James Beard Foundation announced its long list of semifinalists for the 2022 version of its prestigious restaurant and chef awards after taking a break in 2020 and 2021. The foundation used the past couple of years to conduct internal and external reviews of its policies and procedures, aiming to make the awards process more accessible, equitable, and transparent going forward.

Here are the semifinalists across the Carolinas and the Lowcountry.

Outstanding Chef

• Mashama Bailey, The Grey, Savannah, GA

Outstanding Restaurant

• Butcher & Bee, Charleston, SC
• Chai Pani, Asheville, NC

Emerging Chef

• Cleophus Hethington, Benne on Eagle, Asheville, NC

Best New Restaurant

• Machete, Greensboro, NC
• Nani’s Piri Piri Chicken, Asheville, NC

Outstanding Baker

• Susannah Gebhart, Old World Levain (OWL) Bakery, Asheville, NC

Outstanding Hospitality

• Cúrate, Asheville, NC

Outstanding Bar Program

• Alley Twenty Six, Durham, NC

Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)

• Katie Button, Cúrate, Asheville, NC
• Greg Collier, Leah & Louise, Charlotte, NC
• Oscar Diaz, The Cortez, Raleigh, NC
• Sunny Gerhart, St. Roch Fine Oysters + Bar, Raleigh, NC
• Cheetie Kumar, Garland, Raleigh, NC
• Ricky Moore, Saltbox Seafood Joint, Durham, NC
• Orlando Pagán, Wild Common, Charleston, SC
• Peyton Smith, Mission Pizza Napoletana, Winston-Salem, NC
• Stephanie Tyson, Sweet Potatoes, Winston-Salem, NC
• Aaron Vandemark, Panciuto, Hillsborough, NC

Disclosure: Some Vox Media staff members are part of the voting body for the James Beard Awards.