Of the seven semifinalists named in June, two Maine contenders became finalists Tuesday in the 2026 James Beard Awards.

Dana Street, founder of Fore Street, Scales, Standard Baking Co. and Street and Co., is now among five finalists from around the country for Outstanding Restaurateur. Thomas Takashi Cooke of Izakaya Minato in Portland is one of five finalists for the Best Chef: Northeast award.

“I think all these restaurant owners deserve some sort of kudos, not just a few,” said Cooke, reached at the restaurant after cutting fish for the evening’s service.

“Everybody works their butt off here,” he continued. “I want that to be understood by everybody that thinks I’m some super chef or some nonsense like that. It’s not like that. The people that work here care, and that’s why it shows when the food goes out.”

Cooke wasn’t expecting a huge crowd Tuesday evening, saying that was good because he was on dad duty, so that his wife and Izakaya co-owner Elaine Alden could go to book club.

Street could not be reached for comment.

Last year, no Maine semifinalists moved on as finalists, for the first time in 11 years.

Night Moves Bread of South Portland was a 2026 semifinalist in the national category of Outstanding Bakery. Other 2026 semifinalists included Jeremy Broucek of Bread & Friends; Chris Gould of Central Provisions; Sara Jenkins of Nina June in Rockport; and Jake Stevens of Leeward, all of them vying for Best Chef: Northeast.

In 2024, Maine had two James Beard winners: Atsuko Fujimoto of Norimoto Bakery won for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker and ZUbakery won for Outstanding Bakery. Both bakeries are in Portland.

The James Beard Award ceremony, when the winners will be announced, is scheduled for June 15 in Chicago. Guess who won’t be there? Cooke.

When he was named a semi-finalist, the foundation asked him, and all other semi-finalists, a routine question: Can you attend the ceremony?

“I’m already spoken for that day,” Cooke told them. “I’m going with my son to see Japan play in the World Cup.”

The match is in Dallas and Japan is playing. His son is 6 and an avid soccer player, and Cooke, who is half-Japanese, played in high school.

“That’s a bucket list,” Cooke said, “so I’ve got to do that over anything else. I mean (the Beard nomination) is a great honor but … the World Cup happens once every four years and this is the first time it’s happening in the U.S. since 1994. I don’t feel like I should miss it.”