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WNC Business

WNC Chef Wins Best Chef: Southeast at 2026 James Beard Awards

Jun 16, 2026 02:43PM ● By WNC Business

Chef Taylor Montgomery and his wife, Fran, at Montgomery Sky Farm. 

The James Beard Foundation announced its 2026 Restaurant and Chef Awards, naming Taylor Montgomery, chef-owner of Montgomery Sky Farm in Leicester, North Carolina, Best Chef: Southeast. Montgomery earned the honor over finalists from North Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.

"Tucked into the quiet valley of Turkey Creek and surrounded by the mountains of Western North Carolina, Montgomery Sky Farm is a 50-acre working farm in Leicester, NC," reads the farm's website."Founded in 2018 by Chef Taylor Montgomery and his wife, Fran, the farm is a living expression of intentional stewardship, where regenerative agriculture, private culinary experiences, and animal rescue come together to create lasting impact. What began as a shared vision has grown into a purpose-driven way of life, rooted in care for the land, its animals, and the community it serves."