Four Baltimore dining professionals and destinations are among the 2026 semifinalists for the culinary world’s prestigious James Beard Awards.
The James Beard Foundation on Wednesday announced its list of semifinalists across 25 categories – and Charm City finds itself represented in four of them.
Matthew Oetting, chef and owner of the restaurant Marta in Baltimore’s Butchers Hill neighborhood, is in the running for “Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic.” Marta plans to expand to Harbor Point, with Marta al Mare slated to open in summer 2026 at the T. Rowe Price’s headquarters.
Oetting is in good company, too, with fellow Maryland chef Darmyelesh Alemu, of Beteseb restaurant in Silver Spring, also being named a semifinalist in this category. The Mid-Atlantic division includes chefs from Maryland, D.C., Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and New Jersey.
Doug Atwell, who runs the Southpaw cocktail bar in Fells Point, is a semifinalist for “Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service.”
In 2023, Baltimore magazine named Southpaw the city’s best new bar.
When Baltimore Fishbowl columnist Amy Langrehr spoke with Atwell for a Baker’s Dozen interview in 2025, he told her that opening Southpaw was his greatest accomplishment.
“Opening my bar Southpaw, and by doing so building a second home and a third place to welcome people into,” he said.
Unsurprisingly, Atwell also said his favorite place in Baltimore was “Behind my bar on a busy night, with the O’s up by a few runs.”
Speaking of bars, Pink Flamingo in Remington is a semifinalist for “Best New Bar.” Brendan Dorr and Eric Fooy, the minds behind Dutch Courage, opened Pink Flamingo in April in the former home of The Dizz, pairing a “tropical theme with the comforts of a tavern,” according to the bar’s website.
In the “Outstanding Bakery” category, Café Dear Leon finds itself as a semifinalist. The Canton bakery was founded by Cheolsoo Lee, Sungae Lee, and Min Kim – and the “Leon” in the eatery’s name is a tribute to Kim’s first child.
“We celebrate the artisanal and romantic essence of French boulangerie using classical techniques and seasonal ingredients, but also innovate and reinvent with the inspiration from our own roots,” according to the café’s website.
The team from Café Dear Leon also opened a second spot, La Maison, in the former JBGB’s space in October.
The James Beard Foundation will announce the Restaurant and Chef finalists on March 31, and winners will be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on June 15 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
