James Beard Award semifinalists in the Restaurant and Chef Awards categories were released Jan. 21. The Upstate had three nominees.
Andrea Ciavardini-Royko, managing partner and sommelier at downtown Greenville Italian eatery Jianna, was nominated in the Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service category. Owner and chef Michael Kramer released a restaurant cookbook with a wine and cocktail preamble contributed by Royko in 2024.
Joe Cash, chef and owner of Scoundrel, was nominated for Best Chef: Southeast. Cash had a banner year in 2025, with Scoundrel earning the Upstate’s first Michelin Star. Scoundrel is located on Greenville’s Main Street.
“Being named a James Beard semifinalist is a true honor,” Cash said. “It is incredibly rewarding to see our hard work recognized, and this acknowledgment reflects the dedication of the entire team and the consistency they bring to their craft every day.”
Although his business is no longer based in the Upstate, former Urban Wren executive chef Taylor Montgomery earned a nomination for Best Chef: Southeast. Montgomery operates farm and restaurant concept Montgomery Sky Farm in Leicester, North Carolina.
“We had no clue,” Montgomery said of the nomination. “So it was funny. I was out feeding cows and I noticed that Fran [his wife] had called me six times, and I was like, ‘What’s going on?’ And and she told me.”
In December, it was announced that Montgomery and the farm would be the subject of an upcoming documentary, “The Soil Remembers.” The film was directed by Greenville’s Rioin Oshiro, who won a James Beard Media Award in 2024 for his documentary about Sum Bar owner Khailing Neoh.
In total, South Carolina earned 10 semifinalist nominations:
- Outstanding Restaurant: Chubby Fish (Charleston)
- Emerging Chef: Palmira Barbecue (Charleston)
- Best New Restaurant: Merci (Charleston)
- Outstanding Bakery: Weltons Tiny Bakeshop (Charleston)
- Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program: Stems & Skins (Charleston)
- Outstanding Bar: Graft Wine Shop & Wine Bar (Charleston)
- Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service: Andrea Ciavardini-Royko (Greenville)
- Best Chef Southeast: Joe Cash (Greenville), Bintou N’Daw of Bintü Atelier (Charleston), Heidi Vukov of Hook & Barrel (Myrtle Beach)
The James Beard Awards were established in 1990. Oshiro is Greenville’s only winner. Spartanburg’s Wade’s Restaurant earned an American Classics Award in 2024.
The restaurant and chef finalists will be announced March 31, with winners to be announced June 15.
