The Asheville area’s nationally recognized culinary scene is celebrating a new James Beard Award win.
Chef Taylor Montgomery of Montgomery Sky Farm received the 2026 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southeast during the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards on June 15 in Chicago.
Montgomery is known for intimate, hyper-seasonal tasting menus that bring Appalachian ingredients, preservation traditions and farm-grown produce to the center of the table. Montgomery Sky Farm, located just outside Asheville, is a regenerative farm and animal rescue where Taylor and co-owner Fran Montgomery host chef-led culinary experiences.
The award marks a major moment for Montgomery Sky Farm and for Asheville’s broader Foodtopia community, where independent restaurants, farmers, makers and chefs have helped define one of the South’s most distinctive culinary destinations.
The recognition comes during a notable year for the farm. “The Soil Remembers,” a documentary about Taylor and Fran Montgomery’s work at Montgomery Sky Farm, was also nominated for a 2026 James Beard Media Award. The film highlights the farm’s commitment to regenerative agriculture, community care and resilience in Western North Carolina.
Asheville’s culinary traditions are rooted in Appalachian heritage, seasonal abundance and a deep culture of hospitality. Long before national accolades followed, the region’s foodways were shaped by farmers, foragers, preservationists, immigrant-owned kitchens, family recipes and independent restaurants committed to telling a deeper story of place.
Since 2010, Asheville-area chefs and restaurants have earned consistent recognition from the James Beard Foundation. With Montgomery’s win, Asheville-area chefs and restaurants have now received 40 James Beard nominations and four national wins.
In 2025, Ashleigh Shanti, chef and owner of Good Hot Fish restaurant, won a James Beard Media Award for her debut cookbook, "Our South: Black Food Through My Lens.” In 2022, Chai Pani won the Outstanding Restaurant award, and Spanish tapas bar Cúrate, won the Outstanding Hospitality award.
The award follows another landmark year for the region’s food scene. In 2025, 15 Asheville-area restaurants were recognized in the inaugural MICHELIN Guide to the American South, more than any other North Carolina city.
Earlier this year, Montgomery was named a James Beard Award finalist alongside fellow Asheville-area culinary leaders Meherwan Irani and Molly Irani of Chai Pani Restaurant Group in the Outstanding Restaurateur category. Matt Dawes of The Bull and Beggar was also named a semifinalist for Best Chef: Southeast.