Three El Paso restaurants have been named semifinalists in the James Beard Awards 2025 Restaurant and Chef Awards. The semifinalists were announced Jan. 22. Nominees will be announced on Wednesday, April 2, and winners will be announced at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on Monday, June 16, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

In February 2024, Chronicle sat down with Chef Rachel Miller at her new venture, Sin City Superette. Although that business is now closed, Miller's Nightshade Noodle Bar has been nominated for a James Beard Award for a second year in a row under the Best Chef, Northeast category.

Joining him are chef David Bancroft of Acre in Auburn, a five-time semifinalist, and chef Arwen Rice of Red or White in Mobile, a semifinalist for the second year in a row. Bancroft and Rice are up for Best Chef: South.

James Beard Foundation awards semifinalist include several Atlanta chefs and restaurants. Atlanta has Michelin now, but the James Beard Foundation awards are still a big deal in the local restaurant scene.

A chef who trained in Napa Valley, New York and London, RJ Yoakum is nominated for a Best Emerging James Beard Aware, though he’s already an executive chef.

James Beard Foundation recognizes top achievements in the culinary world. This year five New Mexico chefs are semifinalists in the “Best of the Southwest” category and another three local establishments are semifinalists in national categories like “outstanding bakery,