Chef Mary Ellen Diaz’s Appalachian ingredients, tastes and traditions are recognized among the top in the region as a James Beard Finalist
JEFFERSON COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA–JUNE 2026–Jefferson County’s historic Shepherdstown is known for its locally owned, independent shops and restaurants. Thanks to a love of regional cuisine, one chef is bringing her small town into the national culinary spotlight. Chef Mary Ellen Diaz, executive chef at Alma Bea (202 East Washington Street, Shepherdstown, West Virginia 25443; 304-870-2153) is a finalist for the prestigious 2026 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southeast. Named one of the top five finalists in the six-state region, Diaz was recognized for her cuisine that highlights West Virginia ingredients and honors regional culinary traditions.
“What I’m most excited about for the James Beard Award is the sense that it’s highlighting Appalachian cuisine,” Diaz says. “We honor the traditions that women for generations made. It’s an incredibly rich culture, an unpretentiousness of a style of cooking that creates incredible flavors. It makes West Virginia Appalachian food shine.”
Diaz is a Virginia native with family ties to West Virgina. She learned about Appalachian cooking from family matriarchs before training in France. Prior to returning to her Appalachian roots in Shepherdstown she served as Executive Chef at a number of restaurants in Chicago.
The Alma Bea menu changes frequently, featuring seasonal favorites and fresh local products. The final dishes represent not only staples of regional cuisine but also Diaz’s creative preparations and innovative pairings that offer a fresh take on everything from well-known favorites to under utilized ingredients. Featured dishes range from what has been called a “tapa-lachian” tasting menu to entrees of well-known local favorites like buttermilk fried chicken, smoked brisket and rainbow trout, prepared in new ways.
Diaz, ever humble, credits her staff for their collaborative efforts to create both a menu and an atmosphere worthy of the honor. “I’m not the only one that’s created this,” she notes. “My front of the house, my back of the house, we’re all mentoring each other. They’re very much integral to every single recipe that we have.”
The restaurant’s atmosphere is as unpretentious as its chef, located in what used to be an old farm supply store. It is one of a host of local chef-driven restaurants with specialties ranging from local influences to European-style dining, French cuisine in a garden setting and Mediterranean inspired menus.
The James Beard Awards are among the most prestigious honors in the American food and hospitality industry. They’re presented annually by the James Beard Foundation to recognize excellence in restaurants, chefs, beverage programs and hospitality. The 2026 winners will be announced in June.