The 35th annual James Beard Awards honoring outstanding chefs, restaurants, bars and more released its list of semifinalists in each of its many categories this week.

Texas is so big that it has its own Best Chef category, which is organized by each U.S. region. Twenty talented chefs from the Lone Star State reached the semifinals in this category, most of which are in South Texas and the Houston area.

Last year, Ana Liz Pulido of Ana Liz Taqueria in Mission, Texas, took home the award for Best Chef: Texas. It was the only award earned by a Texas chef that night.

There are three new James Beard Awards categories this year that all pertain to drinks and beverage service: Best New Bar, Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service and Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service.

Looking ahead, Restaurant and Chef Awards will be held at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on Monday, June 16, where the winners in each category will be announced at the ceremony.

Here is the full list of Texas chefs that made the semifinals in the 14 categories by region.

Central Texas

Best Chef: Texas

Takéhiro Asazu and Masazumi Saio, Uroko, Austin

Evan LeRoy, LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue, Austin

Outstanding Chef

Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Canje, Austin

Best New Restaurant

Lao’d Bar, Austin

Outstanding Bar

Techo Mezcaleria & Agave Bar, Austin

Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service (New category)

Arjav Ezekiel, Birdie's, Austin

South Texas

Best Chef: Texas

Leo Davila, Stixs & Stone, San Antonio

Jennifer Hwa Dobbertin, Best Quality Daughter, San Antonio

Grey Hwang, Shiro Japanese Bistro, San Antonio

Emil Oliva, Leche de Tigre, San Antonio

John Ramos and Jonathan Reyes, Chika, San Antonio

Alex Sarmiento and Brenda Sarmiento, El Pastor Es Mi Señor, San Antonio

Eugenio Uribe, Le Rêve, Brownsville

Outstanding Chef

David Kirkland and Ernest Servantes, Burnt Bean Co., Seguin

Outstanding Hospitality

Mixtli, San Antonio

Dallas-Fort Worth

Best Chef: Texas

Fasicka Hicks and Patrick Hicks, Smoke'N Ash BBQ, Arlington

Anais Paniagua and Iris Rojas, Doña Maria, Irving

Regino Rojas, Purépecha, Dallas

Emerging Chef

RJ Yoakum, Georgie, Dallas

Outstanding Bakery

Starship Bagel, Lewisville

Outstanding Bar

Apothecary, Dallas

Best New Bar (New category)

Bar Colette, Dallas

West Texas

Best Chef: Texas

Alexandra Gates, Cochineal, Marfa

Michael Anthony Serva, Bordo, Marfa

Outstanding Restaurant

ELEMI, El Paso

Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker

Mateo Herrera, La Puerta del Sol, El Paso

Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program

Taconeta, El Paso

Houston area

Best Chef: Texas

Ope Amosu, ChòpnBlọk, Houston

Thomas Bille, Belly of the Beast, Spring

Emmanuel Chavez, Tatemó, Houston

Evelyn Garcia, Jūn, Houston

Beatriz Martines, Xalisko, The Woodlands

David Skinner, Ishtia, Kemah

Outstanding Restaurateur

Itai Ben Eli and Itamar Levy, Sof Hospitality Group (Hamsa, Badolina Bakery, and Doris 

Metropolitan), Houston

Sara Stayer and Martin Stayer, Nobie's, Toasted Coconut, and Nonno's, Houston

Emerging Chef

Suu Khin, Burmalicious, Houston

Best New Restaurant

Ema, Houston

Outstanding Bakery

Koffeteria, Houston

Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program

March, Houston

Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service (New category)

Andres Blanco, Le Jardinier, Houston