Three local eateries and chefs were named semifinalists for the 2026 James Beard Awards, one of the most prestigious accolades in the food and beverage industry.
The chef-owner of MeeshMeesh Mediterranean in NuLu, Noam Bilitzer, was named a semifinalist in the Best Chef: Southeast category, according to Louisville Business First and local media reports.
In the competitive regional field, which includes chefs from Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia, Bilitzer has received recognition for the second year in a row.
Since its opening in 2023, MeeshMeesh, which is well-known for its family-friendly Eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine, has emerged as a major player in Louisville’s dining scene.
Watch Hill Proper in Prospect’s Norton Commons, which was named a semifinalist in the Outstanding Bar category, is another establishment that represents the Louisville region. The bar’s extensive and well-curated bourbon collection, which includes rare and difficult-to-find bottles that appeal to both collectors and casual enthusiasts, has garnered national attention.
Michael Bowe of Red Yeti in Jeffersonville, Indiana, was named a semifinalist in the Best Chef: Great Lakes category as well.
In the Best Chef: Southeast category, David Willocks of The Baker’s Table in Newport was also named a semifinalist.
The 2026 James Beard Awards finalists will be revealed on March 31. The winners will be announced on June 15 in Chicago at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony.
This article appears in Jan 1-31, 2026.