These Are Colorado’s Five 2026 James Beard Finalists

In January, seventeen Colorado chefs, restaurants and bar pros appeared on the list of 2026 James Beard Award semifinalists — the highest number from Colorado ever.

The honorees spanned eleven categories, including big national awards such as Outstanding Restaurateur for Hop Alley and Molino Chido’s Tommy Lee (an award that Kelly and Erika Whitaker of Id Est Hospitality won in 2024) and Best New Restaurant for Kizaki. Neither made the finalist list issued on March 31, though.

Also among the semifinalists were seven Colorado names in the Best Chef: Mountain category, which includes Idaho, Montana, Utah and Wyoming. Of those, two made the finalist cut: Penelope Wong of Yuan Wonton (who was a finalist in the same category last year) and Johnny Curiel, who has opened a string of hits but is listed here for his work at his first restaurant, the Michelin-starred Alma Fonda Fina.

While Outstanding Bar semifinalist Lady Jane did not make the finalist cut, McLain Hedges and Mary Allison Wright, owners of Yacht Club and newcomer Rougarou, are representing the local bar scene as finalists in the Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service category.

Longtime Barolo Grill owner and sommelier Ryan Fletter is also a finalist in the Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service category.

And for the second year in a row, Josh Niernberg of Bin 707 Foodbar in Grand Junction is representing the Western Slope in a big way as a semifinalist in the Outstanding Chef category.

This year’s winners will be announced at a ceremony in Chicago on Monday, June 15.