The James Beard Foundation announced the winners of its 2026 awards on Tuesday, with Houston chefs taking Texas’ top honors while North Texas nominees from Dallas and Denton did not win in their categories.
The foundation recognized winners across its annual awards for restaurants and chefs, including categories for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker and Best Chef: Texas.
In the Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker category, Maggie Huff of Lucia in Dallas joined a group of national finalists but did not win. The award went to Susan Bae of Moon Rabbit in Washington, D.C.
Other nominees in the category included Neale Asato of Asato Family Shop in Honolulu, Tavel Bristol-Joseph of Nicosi in San Antonio, and Justine MacNeil of Fiore in Philadelphia.
In the Best Chef: Texas category, Scott Girling of Osteria il Muro in Denton represented North Texas among the finalists but did not receive the award. The category was won by Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu of JŪN in Houston.
Other Texas nominees included Ope Amosu of ChòpnBlọk in Houston, the team of Gabe Padilla and Melissa Padilla of Café Piro in Socorro, and Finn Walter of The Nicolett in Lubbock.
Lucia, located in Dallas’ Bishop Arts District, has received multiple James Beard nominations since opening in 2010 and specializes in Italian cuisine. Osteria il Muro in Denton also earned recognition for its Italian menu under chef-owner Girling.
Houston chefs accounted for Texas’ wins in this year’s awards cycle, with Garcia and Lu earning recognition in the Best Chef: Texas category.
