The 2025 James Beard Awards Semifinalists in Portland

I was happy to see the 2025 James Beard Awards semifinalists list released today. And not only did Portland represent well, but chefs from other cities in Oregon were recognized, too. From Portland to Eugene to McMinville and beyond, our beautiful state shows how much we have to offer the world of food, dining, and edible creativity.

2025 James Beard Awards Semifinalists: Portland, Oregon

Below are the talented individuals and restaurants that made the semifinalist round in Portland. Many of them are household names in Portland’s food scene: Sarah Minnick, whose restaurant recently celebrated 15 years; Gabriel Rucker, whose Le Pigeon helped put Portland on the map as far as its reputation in dining (it’s almost 20 years old at this point); Coquine and Jinju, both run by women and considered locally as home to some of the best eats. Also worth noting is that Chef Q at Jinju recently fought breast cancer.

Of note: The semifinalists and restaurants are based in North, Northeast, and Southeast Portland.

Outstanding Chef in Portland

• Sarah Minnick, Lovely’s Fifty Fifty (N, website)
• Gabriel Rucker, Le Pigeon (SE, website)

Outstanding Restaurant

• Coquine (SE, website)

Outstanding Bakery

• Jinju Patisserie (N, website)

Outstanding Bar

• Scotch Lodge (SE, website)

Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service

• Joel Gunderson, Heavenly Creatures (NE, website)

Best Chef: Northwest & Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA)

• Thomas Pisha-Duffly, Gado Gado (NE, website)
• Ryan Roadhouse, Nodoguro (NE, website)

2025 James Beard Awards Semifinalists: Greater Oregon

All the semifinalist chefs from other Oregon cities are in the Best Chef: Northwest & Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA) category. They hail from Amity, Ashland, Eugene, and McMinnville.

Best Chef: Northwest & Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA) 

• Joshua Dorcak, MÄS, Ashland (website)
• Isaiah Martinez, Yardy Rum Bar, Eugene (website)
• Sarah Schafer, Humble Spirit, McMinnville (website)
• Kari Shaughnessy, Hayward, McMinnville (website)
• Timothy Wastell, Antica Terra, Amity (website)

35 Years of James Beard Awards

As we all know, anniversaries that end with a 0 or a 5 feel significant. Such is the case with the James Beard Awards, this being it’s 35th anniversary of honoring the culinary professionals in the U.S. It is considered very prestigious and often referred to as the “Oscars of the Food World.” The original award categories, the Restaurant and Chef Awards, started in 1990 (first awards given in 1991).

The James Beard Awards organizers also added this bit of information for this anniversary year:

“The 2025 Restaurant and Chef Award semifinalists are recognized across 25 categories. In celebration of the Awards’ pivotal anniversary, as well as in recognition of the ever-evolving independent restaurant landscape, the 2025 Restaurant and Chef Awards have expanded with a focus on beverages, introducing three new categories: Best New Bar, Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service, and Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service.”

And on the topic of James Beard, I will take this opportunity to say how excited I am to see the James Beard Public Market open later this year!

What’s Next

For the Restaurant and Chef Awards, this semifinalist list will be whittled down through the next steps in the process. This will result in a nominees list, announced on Wednesday, April 2. The winners will be revealed on Monday, June 16, 2025, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Below is a infographic that outlines the process of determining semifinalists, nominees, and winners of James Beard Awards.

There are additional award categories, too, including Media (books, broadcast media, and journalism), and the Impact Award, among others. Below is a series of dates in the timeline when various announcements will be made regarding the 2025 James Beard Awards:

• Upcoming Awards announcements (dates may be subject to change):
• Wednesday, February 26, 2025: America’s Classics Award Winners
• Wednesday April 2, 2025: Restaurant and Chef Award Nominees and Achievement Awards Honorees (Impact Awards, Lifetime Achievement, and Humanitarian of the Year
• Wednesday, May 7, 2025: Media Award Nominees
• Saturday, June 14, 2025: Media Award Winners
• Sunday, June 15, 2025: Impact Award Honorees
• Monday, June 16, 2025: Restaurant and Chef Award Winners

The 2025 James Beard Awards ceremonies will take place in Chicago on the following dates:
● Saturday, June 14, 2025: Media Awards at Columbia College Chicago Student Center
● Sunday, June 15, 2025: Impact Awards at The Dalcy
● Monday, June 16, 2025: Restaurant and Chef Awards at the Lyric Opera of Chicago

Again, big congratulations to all the 2025 James Beard Awards Semifinalists in Portland and greater Oregon!