KEY TAKEAWAYS: Serigne Mbaye of Dakar NOLA won the 2026 James Beard Award for Best Chef: South. Three other New Orleans chefs and restaurateurs were finalists in national James Beard categories. The award follows Dakar NOLA’s recent recognition as Best Restaurant in the South by North Americ a’s 50 Best Restaurants. New Orleans Company said the accolades continue to boost the city’s global culinary reputation and tourism appeal.   New Orleans’ culinary reputation received another national boost after Dakar NOLA’s Chef Serigne Mbaye won the 2026 James Beard Award for Best Chef: South, capping a string of recent accolades that city tourism leaders say is elevating the city’s global food profile. In a statement Tuesday, Walter J. Leger III, president and CEO of New Orleans Company, congratulated Mbaye and the Dakar NOLA team following the awards ceremony in Chicago, calling the honor a point of pride for New Orleans and its hospitality industry. The James Beard Awards recognize excellence in the culinary arts while also honoring leadership in areas including community, sustainability and equity. New Orleans also was well represented among this year’s finalists. Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski of Link Restaurant Group were finalists for Outstanding Restaurateur, E.J. Lagasse of Emeril’s was a finalist for Emerging Chef, and Ana Castro of Acamaya was a finalist for Best Chef: South. Leger said the recognition builds on what has been a banner period for New Orleans’ restaurant industry. Last fall, New Orleans Company helped promote the city’s culinary scene through participation in the inaugural Michelin Guide to the American South. More recently, the city hosted North America’s 50 Best Restaurants awards, where Dakar NOLA was named Best Restaurant in the South and ranked No. 4 on the list. New Orleans also is scheduled to host the Americas selection for the Bocuse d’Or and Pastry World Cup competitions in July 2026, bringing another major international culinary event to the city. Leger said the growing list of national and international honors helps strengthen New Orleans’ reputation as a global dining destination while generating tourism and business opportunities for the city’s restaurants, hospitality industry and broader cultural economy. “Congratulations to Serigne, Effie Richardson, and the entire team at Dakar NOLA. Your achievement is a source of pride for New Orleans, and we celebrate this well-deserved honor with you,” Leger said in the statement. Click here for all of the winners. ...read more read less