Nominate Birmingham chefs, restaurants and bars for James Beard Awards 2025

Automatic Seafood and Oysters in Lakeview. (Jacob Blankenship/ Bham Now)

Do you know a Birmingham metro restaurant or bar that deserves a James Beard Award?

The James Beard Foundation® has opened up its “entry and recommendation” period for the 2025 James Beard Awards® presented by Capital One.

Described as the “Oscars” of the food world, the James Beard Awards recognize exceptional talent in the culinary arts, hospitality, food media and the broader food system. The Awards also recognize a demonstrated commitment to equity, community, sustainability and creating a culture where all can thrive. 

Recommendations are open until November 29, 2024, at 11:59PM Eastern Time.

List of Birmingham James Beard winners

The Bright Star in Bessemer (Jacob Blankenship / Bham Now)

Past Birmingham area winners include:

• Adam Evans — Automatic Seafood – Best Chef: South (2022)
• Highlands Bar & Grill—Outstanding Restaurant (2018)
• Dolester Miles — Highlands Bar & Grill—Outstanding Pastry Chef (2018)
• Chris Hastings—Hot and Hot Fish Club, Chef— Best Chef: South (2012) 
• Bright Star in Bessemer — American Classic (2010
• Frank Stitt— Highlands Bar & Grill — Best Chef: Southeast (2001)

How to make a recommendation

The good folks at the James Beard Foundation® have produced several “how to submit” videos for their various award categories.

Check them out below:

To start an open call submission, follow the link here. 

Who is the next Highlands Bar & Grill, Chris Hastings, Chris Evans, Dolester Miles or Bright Star?

Help get the word out about Birmingham’s amazing food scene by making a recommendation today.

Are you going to submit a local restaurant or bar? Tell us on social media who it is by tagging us at @bhamnow!

Pat Byington

Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards.