The James Beard Foundation kicked off its annual awards season on Wednesday, January 21, with the announcement of semifinalists for its 2026 Restaurant and Chef Awards. Several Vermont chefs and industry pros were recognized in the first round of the prestigious awards. Café Monette in St. Alb ans was one of 30 restaurants around the country named in the Best New Restaurant category. Leslie McCrorey Wells — co-owner of Burlington’s Pizzeria Verità, Trattoria Delia and Sotto Enoteca — is a semifinalist for Outstanding Restaurateur. Kate Wise, bar manager at Burlington’s Juniper Bar Restaurant, was recognized in the nationwide Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service category. Three Vermont chefs made the list for the regional Best Chef: Northeast category: Tiara Adorno of the Crooked Ram in Manchester, Paul Trombly of Fancy’s in Burlington and Max Vogel of Ondis in Montpelier. Leslie McCrorey Wells of Pizzeria Verità, Trattoria Delia and Sotto Enoteca Credit: File: Luke Awtry Wells was “incredibly, incredibly humbled” by the Outstanding Restaurateur recognition, she said. The nationwide category recognizes owners and operators who use “their establishments as a vehicle for building community [and demonstrate] creativity in entrepreneurship, and integrity in restaurant operations,” the description explains. Wells was quick to acknowledge the staff at her Burlington restaurants, all of which are on St. Paul Street. “I’ve been working at this for a really long time — so many of us have — and it’s always been about my team,” Wells told Seven Days on Wednesday. “The last two years, they’ve really stepped up to give me the opportunity to do other things.” Those other things include running Lovestock Farm in Grand Isle and launching Alimentari, an Italian café and market at 196 St. Paul Street. Alimentari will tentatively open by the end of February, she said. “It’s such a difficult time for restaurants,” Wells said. “Every restaurant should be applauded for keeping their staff employed and their doors open.” Last year, Vermont had finalists in three categories of the awards: White River Junction cocktail bar Wolf Tree for Outstanding Bar, May Day chef Avery Buck for Best Chef: Northeast category, and Allison Gibson and Cara Chigazola Tobin — co-owners of Burlington’s Honey Road and the Grey Jay — for Outstanding Restaurateur. Chef Nisachon “Rung” Morgan of Randolph’s Saap restaurant won Vermont’s first James Beard Award in 2022. This year’s semifinalists will be whittled into a short list of nominees on Tuesday, March 31. Award winners will be announced at a ceremony in Chicago on June 15. This post has been updated. The post Vermont Chefs and Industry Pros Named 2026 James Beard Award Semifinalists appeared first on Seven Days. ...read more read less