Things you may not know about submitting to the James Beard Awards®
Quick Answers
- Anyone can submit during the open call period (September 30 – November 30), from the public to customers and colleagues or other chefs. Operators are also encouraged to submit themselves or for someone else they feel is worthy of consideration for a semifnalist nod.
- There is no fee to submit to the Restaurant and Chef Awards.
- You also don’t need public relations representation to be considered or make the cut.
- You don’t need to have previous awards, accolades, honors, or other national or local recognition to submit or to be considered.
- What does matter is the quality of your work, the food, beverage, and service experiences you’re creating for customers, and how you’re contributing to your team and the industry as a whole.
The open call for the 37th annual James Beard Awards is officially underway. If you or your team have always wanted to submit but never understood how or where to start, we’ve got it broken down for you, step-by-step. We asked Dawn Padmore, Vice President of Awards for the James Beard Foundation, for an overview of the submission process. Here’s everything you need to know if you’re ready to throw your hat (or another candidate’s) in the ring.
How the selection process works
The voting process starts with an open call for recommendations, which are reviewed by subcommittee members. The semifinalist list comes out January 20, 2027, and will feature 20 semifinalists in each category (excluding the Best New Restaurant category which has 30). Other categories include Outstanding Restaurateur, Emerging Chef, Best Chef by region, Best New Restaurant, Best New Bar, and new this year are separate categories for Outstanding Pastry Chef, and Outstanding Baker and Dessert Professional (see the full list of categories here).
After a first round of tasting, subcommittee members and judges visit all semifinalists and vote, with five finalists for each category (10 for Best New Restaurant) announced March 31, 2027. A second round of tasting dives in further, with discussion and voting by subcommittee members and judges, and the final winners are announced at the Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony in Chicago on June 14, 2027. All open call information is available on the James Beard Foundation’s website, including within the Restaurant and Chef eligibility document that can be found at jamesbeard.org/awards.
How do I submit an entry for the Media Awards?
If you wrote a cookbook, hosted a podcast, produced a food show you’re proud of, or written a story, you can submit your work for one or more of the three Media programs: Book, Broadcast Media, and/or Journalism Awards. You can submit during the same open call time frame as the Restaurant and Chef Awards. After you apply and submit the work, a subcommittee will screen entries and judges will review them, ranking the top 10. Judges will then vote on the top three, who will be announced as nominees. The next round of voting will yield the winners who will be announced on June 12, 2027 at the Media Awards in Chicago. You can check out the three Media Awards programs, eligibility requirements and guidelines to apply to each at jamesbeard.org/awards.
Do I need to have a ton of accolades under my belt to enter the Restaurant and Chef Awards?
Padmore says that first and foremost, these Awards celebrate excellence. Previous awards are not required for submission to any of the programs.
“The Restaurant and Chef Awards recognize restaurants, bars, chefs, restaurateurs and beverage professionals across the country at different stages of their careers, from long-standing institutions to newer businesses making an impact in their communities,” she says. “You don’t need to have won other awards or have a national profile to be considered. What matters is the quality of the work, the experience you’re creating, and the way you’re contributing to your team, your community, and American food culture. The candidates for the James Beard Awards represent a full arc of a career.”
Do I need to employ a public relations firm to apply?
A PR firm is not required to apply. There is also no fee involved to enter the Restaurant and Chef Awards, but there is an $85 fee for a Media Award submission.
So what does help?
Padmore says that excellence in hospitality starts with what’s served, but extends beyond the plate or glass to working toward a better industry—key parts of the James Beard Foundation’s mission statement and values. So many people spend meaningful moments in restaurants, bars, and other food and beverage establishments,” she says. “The best thing chefs, beverage professionals, operators, and teams can do is continue doing great work, serving excellent food and drink, building positive team culture, and contributing meaningfully to their communities and the broader independent restaurant industry.”
Liz Grossman is an award-winning Chicago-based writer, and the former editor-in-chief of Plate magazine. She’s the co-founder of the nonprofit storytelling series, Between Bites and a regular contributor to Resy, Chicago magazine, Flavor & the Menu, Food Service Director, and Restaurant Development + Design.
