Monsod’s repeated presence on the list further cements her historic run. She remains the only San Diego chef ever to advance to the James Beard finals, having done so in both 2024 and 2025 without ultimately taking home the award. That consistency alone has reshaped how the city is perceived within California’s traditionally Los Angeles- and San Francisco-dominated culinary hierarchy. While the trophy has so far eluded San Diego, Monsod’s continued recognition has elevated Animae and helped normalize the idea that the region belongs in serious national conversations about contemporary American dining.
The other local semifinalist, Eric Bost, arrives under markedly different circumstances. His nomination follows Lilo’s rapid and somewhat controversial ascent into Michelin stardom, earning a star less than two months after opening in Carlsbad. Such accelerated recognition is rare within Michelin’s stated emphasis on long-term consistency, prompting questions about how much institutional familiarity with Bost’s previous work at Jeune et Jolie may have influenced the timeline.
Still, there is little dispute that since restaurateur John Resnick and his team parted ways with founding chef Andrew Bachelier in 2020, the Carlsbad restaurant group has operated with unusual momentum. Under Bost’s leadership, the group has expanded its footprint, sharpened its identity, and stacked accolades at a pace few local operators can match.
Rounding out San Diego’s presence on the semifinalist list is Realm of the 52 Remedies, the Convoy-hidden speakeasy that has quietly become one of the city’s most consistently lauded cocktail destinations. Its nomination in the Outstanding Bar category reinforces the idea that San Diego’s strongest national foothold may now lie as much in beverage programs as in kitchens, particularly as experimental, Asian-influenced bar concepts gain wider appeal.
The semifinalists will be narrowed to finalists on March 31, with winners announced at the James Beard Awards ceremony in New York City on June 15. Whether San Diego finally claims its first Beard win or continues its near-miss streak, the 2026 list makes one thing clear: the city’s culinary narrative is no longer about arrival, but about scrutiny, sustainability, and who truly defines success once the spotlight turns on.
Rounding out San Diego’s presence on the semifinalist list is Realm of the 52 Remedies, the Convoy-hidden speakeasy that has quietly become one of the city’s most consistently lauded cocktail destinations. Its nomination in the Outstanding Bar category reinforces the idea that San Diego’s strongest national foothold may now lie as much in beverage programs as in kitchens, particularly as experimental, Asian-influenced bar concepts gain wider appeal.
The semifinalists will be narrowed to finalists on March 31, with winners announced at the James Beard Awards ceremony in New York City on June 15. Whether San Diego finally claims its first Beard win or continues its near-miss streak, the 2026 list makes one thing clear: the city’s culinary narrative is no longer about arrival, but about scrutiny, sustainability, and who truly defines success once the spotlight turns on.
Originally published on January 22, 2026.
