It’s a big year for professionals in Wisconsin’s food and drink industry, and people across the country are paying attention, as 12 chefs, restaurants, bars, bakers and beverage professionals have been named semifinalists for the prestigious James Beard Awards in eight categories, including seven nods in national categories.
Six Milwaukeeans are included on the James Beard Awards long list. Others from Door County, Madison and Appleton appear, as well.
The James Beard Foundation, which oversees the awards, announced the semifinalists Jan. 21. The list will be narrowed down in the coming weeks, with the final nominees made public at the end of March.
The James Beard Awards are widely considered the Oscars of the dining world and one of the top honors in the United States’ culinary community.
Here are Wisconsin’s contenders for the 2026 awards:
The Mothership, national semifinalist for outstanding bar
The Mothership, 2301 S. Logan Ave., is a semifinalist in the national category of Outstanding Bar. The popular bar known for its unique cocktails and irreverent sense of humor opened in Bay View in 2019, owned by industry veteran Ricky Ramirez. After a three-month closure due to extensive damage from August 2025’s historic flooding, the bar reopened in November.
The Outstanding Bar category recognizes “a wine bar, beer bar, cocktail bar, coffee bar, or any other business whose primary offering is beverage and that demonstrates consistent excellence in curating a selection or in the preparation of drinks, along with outstanding atmosphere, hospitality, and operations.”
This is the first James Beard Award nod for the Mothership.
Vanessa Rose, national semifinalist for emerging chef
Vanessa Rose, chef-owner of Mother’s, 2900 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., a Bay View restaurant that opened in June 2025, has been named a James Beard Award semifinalist in the national category of Emerging Chef.
Rose is not new to the industry, having worked in Milwaukee kitchens including Balzac, Amilinda and Ardent. But Mother’s is the first restaurant she’s running on her own, and this is the first time she’s been recognized by the James Beard Foundation. The Emerging Chef category recognizes “a chef who displays exceptional talent, character, and leadership ability, and who is likely to make a significant impact in years to come,” according to the foundation’s website.
1033 Omakase, national semifinalist for best new restaurant
Milwaukee’s first omakase sushi restaurant, 1033 Omakase, 1033 S. First St., is a James Beard Award semifinalist in the national category of Best New Restaurant.
The popular 10-seat restaurant that serves a fixed menu of sushi and Japanese dishes opened in Walker’s Point in December 2024. It’s known for its quality ingredients and laid-back approach to the art of omakase.
The James Beard Foundation’s Best New Restaurant category recognizes “a restaurant opened between October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025, that already demonstrates excellence in cuisine, seems likely to make a significant impact in years to come, and demonstrates consistent excellence in food, atmosphere, hospitality, and operations.”
Hastings Cameron of Madison’s Imaginary Factory, national semifinalist for outstanding professional in cocktail service
Hastings Cameron, owner of the inventive Madison distillery Imaginary Factory, 1401 Northern Court, Madison, has been named a semifinalist in the national category of Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service. The distillery and tasting room opened in 2021.
Public Parking in Madison, national semifinalist for best new bar
Madison cocktail bar Public Parking, 711 E. Johnson St., Madison, has been named a semifinalist in the national category of Best New Bar. The bar, which opened in October 2024, serves original cocktails, tiki-inspired drinks, punches, slushies, mocktails, wine, beer and more.
Sway Brewing & Blending of Bailey’s Harbor, national semifinalist for outstanding wine and other beverages program
Door County beer bar, bakery and kitchen Sway Brewing & Blending, 2434 County F, Baileys Harbor, was named a semifinalist in the national category of Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program. The business sources local ingredients for its beer and bakery, which opened in 2024.
Cultured of Sister Bay, national semifinalist for outstanding bakery
Cultured, a Door County bakery specializing in sourdough, bread and bagels, was named a semifinalist in the national category of Outstanding Bakery. The bakery opened its doors at 2570 County Q in Sister Bay in 2023.
Paul Zerkel, Lisa Kirkpatrick, Zak Baker, Milwaukee-area semifinalists for best chef in the Midwest
Three Milwaukee-area chefs were named in the Best Chef: Midwest category. Paul Zerkel and partner Lisa Kirkpatrick of Goodkind, 2457 S. Wentworth Ave; and Zak Baker of Italian restaurant Ca’Lucchenzo, 6030 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa. This is the first semifinalist nod for all three chefs. In 2022, Zerkel and Kirkpatrick’s restaurant, Goodkind, was named a semifinalist in the national Outstanding Bar Program category.
Elsewhere in Wisconsin, Best Chef: Midwest nods were given to chef Adam Marty of Appleton’s Ellinor restaurant and Kasey Lee Cooke of Mint Mark in Madison.
The semifinalists for the Midwest category represent Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Finalists for the 2026 James Beard Awards will be announced March 31, and awards will be presented to the winners at a gala ceremony on June 15 at the Lyric Opera in Chicago.
This story was updated to add new information.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 12 Wisconsin chefs, restaurants named 2026 James Beard semifinalists
Reporting by Rachel Bernhard, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
