The James Beard Foundation released the semifinalists for its annual awards Wednesday morning, and Charlotte has again made the list. Chefs Joe Kindred (Kindred Restaurant and Hello, Sailor) and Greg Collier (The Yolk) took places on the Best Chef: Southeast category. The Southeast region includes the Carolinas, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

Joe Kindred has been a mainstay on the list; this year’s recognition makes him a five-time semifinalist. Kindred was the first chef to regularly break through onto the James Beard Awards radar, helping bring recognition of Charlotte to the contest.

Greg Collier earned his first nod last year as executive chef at Loft & Cellar. That restaurant closed last year after significant turnover in the kitchen. Collier and his wife Subrina, owners of The Yolk in 7th Street Public Market, will open Leah & Louise in Camp North End this spring. We wouldn’t be surprised to see that restaurant in the Best New category in 2021.

Also nominated in the Outstanding Restaurateur category is the Charleston-based owner of O-Ku, Oak Steahouse, Sukoshi, and Indaco, Steve Palmer. You can find the entire list here.

From the semifinalist list, each category will be narrowed down to finalists in late March. The winners in each category will be announced in May. Charlotte is yet to have a chef advance to the finalist round. Following last year’s awards, Justin wrote an explainer on the process and Charlotte’s chances. Check that out here. —Kristen Wile