Meet the 2025 James Beard Award nominees

BY Annie Hollon
PUBLISHED ON April 2, 2025

NEW YORK — During a live ceremony held at the Conrad Los Angeles, the James Beard Foundation announced the nominees for this year’s Restaurant and Chef Awards.

“Today, we are thrilled to announce the 2025 Restaurant and Chef Award nominees and Achievement Award honorees — including our first Impact Award recipients,” said Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation. “These remarkable leaders exemplify our ‘Good Food for Good’ mission through their commitment to excellence, to the evolution of the independent restaurant industry, and our broader food culture. We look forward to celebrating everyone at the 35th anniversary of the James Beard Awards in June.”

Considered one of the most prestigious honors in the culinary space, the awards recognize talent and a commitment to cultivating a positive culture.

“On behalf of the awards committee and the Restaurant and Chef Awards and Beverage Awards subcommittees, congratulations to our 2025 honorees and nominees,” said Chef Elizabeth Falkner, awards committee chair and trustee of the James Beard Foundation. “… My deepest appreciation also goes to our subcommittee members and judges whose thoughtful consideration makes this important recognition possible.”

The nominee list highlights five of the 20 semifinalists announced earlier this year.

Of the five businesses shortlisted, Gusto Bread and JinJu Patisserie are back-to-back nominees for the Outstanding Bakery category. The 2025 nominees in this category are as follows:

Atelier Ortega | Jackson Hole, WY
Gusto Bread | Long Beach, CA
JinJu Patisserie | Portland, OR
Starship Bagel | Lewisville, TX
Super Secret Ice Cream | Bethlehem, NH

The 2025 nominees for the Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker category are:

Susan Bae | Moon Rabbit | Washington, DC
Cat Cox | Country Bird Bakery | Tulsa, OK
April Franqueza | The Dining Room at High Hampton | Cashiers, NC
Crystal Kass | Valentine | Phoenix
Carolyn Nugent and Alen Ramos | Poulette Bakeshop | Parker, CO

Visit the James Beard Award website for the complete list of Restaurant and Chef Awards nominees.

Annie Hollon

Annie Hollon is an experienced journalist, copywriter and social media strategist. As digital editor of Avant Food Media, her contributions include coordinating web content for Commercial Baking and Craft to Crumb, leading social media content and strategy, and crafting features for both brands' magazines. She also established the To Build a Bakery series on Craft to Crumb featuring the stories of growth for bakeries of all scales. She found a love for magazine writing during her time at the University of Alabama where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, double majoring in public relations and English. Beyond writing, you can find her expanding her library, attempting to teach herself the guitar and exploring what Kansas City has to offer.