Local James Beard Semifinalist

Jan 21, 2026 • 3 min. read | By Staff Reports

Chef Dean Neff of Seabird and Zora's Market & Kitchen is a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation's Outstanding Chef Award. (File photo)

Chef Dean Neff, owner of downtown Wilmington eateries Seabird and Zora's Market & Kitchen, has been named a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation's Outstanding Chef Award.

Neff was an Outstanding Chef finalist in 2024. He was also named a semifinalist in the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef Southeast category in 2019 and 2023.

“I’m just waking up in Seattle at an Oyster Master Guild conference and still processing this news. This is such great news for so many of the projects we’re working on," Neff said in an emailed statement. "I’m grateful for a lot of reasons, most of which are the hard work and collaborative spirit of our team, along with it being an opportunity to further our efforts of supporting our local food community while telling the stories of the hard-working people who bring us the ingredients that matter so much to us.”

According to the foundation's website, the James Beard Awards "represent the pinnacle of culinary recognition in the U.S. Since their inception in 1990, the Restaurant and Chef Awards have made icons out of the nation's top restaurant and bar professionals. Today, these semifinalists join a constellation of James Beard Award – recognized leaders who collectively embody the breadth of American culinary excellence."

Restaurant and chef nominees are scheduled to be announced on March 31, and winners will be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on June 15 at the Lyric Opera in Chicago, the website states.

Wilmington chefs Sunny Gerhart and Lauren Krall Ivey of Olivero were named semifinalists for the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef Southeast Award in 2025.

Neff recently introduced Zora’s Fish Bank at Zora's Market & Kitchen, 1411 Castle St. The fish bank is a free fish program using Black Sea Bass raised and donated by the University of North Carolina Wilmington Aquaculture Department, according to a Jan. 15 news release.

“The Zora’s Fish Bank program is about making sure families have access to healthy, safe food – without stress or judgment. This program is designed for families who rely on fishing to feed their family. While pollution in some waters is a concern, this program ensures access to a healthy option, with no questions asked. UNCW’s Aquaculture Department has done incredible work, and we’re thankful we’re able to work with them to provide their farmed Black Sea Bass to families who need a nourishing meal,” stated Neff in the release. “A healthy meal should not be hard to find – and it should never come with worry about safety. That’s what Zora’s Fish Bank is here for.”