Taste America 2026-2027 TasteTwenty Chefs
The James Beard Foundation is thrilled to announce the 2026-2027 lineup of exciting TasteTwenty chefs, its annual selection of “ones to watch” in the industry, who will showcase their talents and represent their city’s independent restaurant community throughout the national Taste America series. Through the Taste America TasteTwenty cohort, the Foundation recognizes some of the industry’s finest talent and changemakers who exemplify the organization’s guiding principle of Good Food for Good®.
Each chef of the TasteTwenty cohort is chosen not only for their exceptional culinary talent but also for their meaningful contributions beyond the kitchen. They're champions of positive change—from supporting sustainable agriculture, investing in their teams, elevating quality ingredients, advocating for a more resilient food system, and more.
Check them out below!

James Beard Award Nominees
Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu
James Beard Award Semifinalist®
JŪN and Third Place
Houston, TX
Photo: JIA Media

Yara Herrera
Hellbender
New York, NY
Photo: Star Chefs

James Beard Award Semifinalist®
Doug Hewitt
Freya and Chartreuse
Detroit, MI

Chef Bootcamp Alum
Christian Irabién
Amparo Fondita
Washington, D.C.

James Beard Award Winner®
Phila Lorn
Mawn
Philadelphia, PA
Photo: Will Blunt

Mathew Meeker
Fancypants
Nashville, TN
Photo: Victoria Quirk

Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Alum and James Beard Award Nominee®
Erin Miller
Urban Hearth
Boston, MA

Chef Bootcamp Alum and James Beard Award Nominee®
Misti Norris
James Beard Award Semifinalist®
Far-Out
Dallas, TX

James Beard Award Semifinalists
Laura and Sayat Ozyilmaz
Maria Isabel Restaurant
San Francisco, CA

Legacy Network Alum and James Beard Award Semifinalist®
Marc Quiñones
La Fonda on the Plaza
Santa Fe, NM

Saif Rahman
James Beard Award Semifinalist®
Peregrine
Raleigh, NC

James Beard Award Semifinalist®
Carol Reyes
Bóveda Restaurante
San Juan, PR

Johnny Reyes
Lenox
Seattle, WA
Photo: Kyler Martin/Dylan Cate

Megan Sanchez
Farag’s
Portland, OR
Photo: Sahra Jajarmi

James Beard Award Semifinalist®
Parnass Savang and
Rod Lassiter
Talat Market
Atlanta, GA

Raheem Sealey and Monika Dominguez
Shiso Miami
Miami, FL

James Beard Award Semifinalist®
LT Smith
Chilte
Phoenix, AZ

Anna Sonenshein and Niki Vahle
Little Fish Melrose Hill
Los Angeles, CA
Photo: Kort Havens

Chef Bootcamp Alum, Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Alum, and James Beard Award Semifinalist®
Sophina Uong
Mister Mao
New Orleans, LA
Photo: Katherine Kimball
