At the 2026 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards held on June 15 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chef Evan Hennessey of Stages in Dover, New Hampshire received the award for Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT) by the James Beard Foundation. As one of the culinary industry’s most celebrated events, this annual ceremony honors the exceptional talent, innovation, and dedication of chefs and restaurateurs from across the country.
Chef Evan opened Stages- an exclusive six-seat chef’s counter restaurant- in March 2012. In addition to this award, Chef Evan has received numerous awards and honors including being named a two-time James Beard Semifinalist, and Finalist for Best Chef Northeast and has competed on Food Network’s Chopped, winning 3 times. Stages has gained many accolades such as the Award of Excellence from the Chaine des Rotisseurs for outstanding food & service, as well as named to the 100 Best Restaurants in North America List by Opinionated About Dining nine years in a row.
“As a chef, winning a James Beard Award shows that the time, effort, and sacrifices you have made over years and years of work have paid off. Recognition at the highest level shows that all the things that you have believed in not only have made an impact in your community, but across the entire nation. It shows that it takes much more than just good cooking to achieve this; it takes layers and layers of effort in multiple directions. As chefs, we spend so much time with our heads down working inside our own bubbles and don’t always have an idea of the full reach or impact we may have. To be recognized by the James Beard Foundation forces us to look up and be proud of ourselves, our accomplishments, and our current position. It’s a great reality check of sorts, one that greatly changes the trajectory of our careers. I truly cannot understate the importance of this careerwise, and the absolute pride I have in this personally. As a restaurant owner, it’s obvious, it attracts guests and secures business for time to come,” says Chef Evan.
Stages serves Progressive New England cuisine. The menu draws inspiration from the world, but sources ingredients from nearby farms and vendors. During the growing season they work intensively with nature’s changing supply, preserving as much as possible in the process. In November 2023, Hennessey launched a staging program in which he mentors chefs from across the country as they craft a three course tasting menu.
Chef Evans also owns The Living Room and Topolino in Dover, New Hampshire.