Four Alabama chefs and one restaurant have made the list of semifinalists for the 2024 James Beard Awards.

The James Beard Foundation announced its restaurant and chef semifinalists this morning.

The semifinalists from Alabama are:

• ·Chanah Willis of Last Call Baking in Biirmingham for Emerging Chef.
• Kelsey Barnard Clark of KBC in Dothan for Best Chef: South.
• Rob McDaniel of Helen in Birmingham for Best Chef: South.
• Arwen Rice of Red or White in Mobile for Best Chef: South.
• The Hope Farm in Fairhope for Outstanding Wine and Other Beverage Programs.

Most categories include 20 semifinalists, with 30 semifinalists for best new restaurant. The field will be narrowed to five finalists on April 3.

The overall winners will be announced at the 2024 James Beard Foundation Awards ceremony on June 10 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Previous James Beard Award winners from Alabama include:

• Adam Evans, Automatic Seafood and Oysters, Birmingham, best chef in the South, 2022.
• Highlands Bar and Grill, Birmingham, most outstanding restaurant, 2018.
• Dolester Miles, Highlands Bar and Grill, Birmingham, most outstanding pastry chef, 2018.
• Chris Hastings, Hot and Hot Fish Club, Birmingham, best chef in the South, 2012.
• The Bright Star, Bessemer, America’s Classic winner, 2010.
• Frank Stitt, Highlands Bar and Grill, best chef in the Southeast, 2001.

For the complete list of this year’s restaurant and chef semifinalists, go here.

This post will be updated.