For nearly two decades, Alabama has been well represented at the James Beard Awards, but for only the second time in 17 years, no chefs or restaurants from the state are among the finalists for the food and restaurant world’s most coveted award.

Four chefs and one restaurant from the state had been among the James Beard Awards semifinalists revealed in January, but none was among the 2024 finalists announced today in a live ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, D.C.

It is the first time since 2019 that Alabama has not had a finalist for the annual culinary awards that are championed as “the Oscars of the food world.”

The semifinalists from Alabama were:

Chanah Willis of Last Call Baking in Birmingham 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 Beverages Program.

This year’ restaurant and chef winners will be announced at the 2024 James Beard Awards ceremony on June 10 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

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The five finalists for Best Chef: South are Valerie Chang of Maty’s in Miami; Hunter Evans of Elvie’s in Jackson, Miss.; Gabriel Hernandez of Verde Mesa in San Juan, P.R.; Carlos Portela of Orujo in San Juan, P.R,; and Arvinder Vilkhu of Saffron in New Orleans.

The Emerging Chef finalists are Fariyal Abdullahi of Hav & Mar in New York City; Janet Becerra of Pancita in Seattle; Nikko Cagalanan of Kultura in Charleston, S.C.; Ryan Fernandez of Southern Junction in Buffalo, N.Y.; and Masako Morishita of Perry’s in Washington, D.C.

The nominees for Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program are Lula Drake Wine Parlour in Columbia, S.C.; The Morris in San Francisco; Strong Water Anaheim in Anaheim, Calif.; Tail Up Goat in Washington, D.C.; and Waxlight Bar à Vin in Buffalo, N.Y.

Named for the celebrated chef, cookbook author and television personality whom the New York Times called “the dean of American cookery,” the James Beard Awards were first presented in 1991.

Previous James Beard Award winners from Alabama include:

Adam Evans, Automatic Seafood and Oysters, Birmingham. Best Chef: 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: South, 2012.

The Bright Star, Bessemer. America’s Classic, 2010.

Frank Stitt, Highlands Bar and Grill, Birmingham. Best Chef: Southeast, 2001; named to the James Beard Foundation’s Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America, 2011.

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