Cleveland’s culinary reputation received a significant boost Wednesday when the James Beard Foundation announced its 2026 semifinalist nominees and Ohio City’s Larder Delicatessen & Bakery appeared in the Outstanding Bakery category. The nomination marks the first James Beard recognition for chef-owner Jeremy Umansky and baker Letha Pugh, whose commitment to traditional techniques and local ingredients has made Larder a neighborhood institution since its 2015 opening.
Larder has built its reputation on house-made charcuterie, naturally fermented breads, and an approach that Umansky describes as “preserving culinary traditions while pushing creative boundaries.” The bakery’s sourdough program utilizes wild yeast cultures captured in Northeast Ohio, while the deli case features house-cured meats and preserved vegetables made from ingredients sourced from Ohio farms. Pugh, who joined Larder in 2022, trained in traditional European baking methods and introduced an expanded morning pastry program that has drawn lines down West 25th Street on weekend mornings.
The James Beard nomination places Larder among 20 bakeries nationwide competing for one of the foundation’s most prestigious awards. Previous Outstanding Bakery winners include San Francisco’s Tartine and Seattle’s Bakery Nouveau. Chef Umansky expressed gratitude for the recognition while crediting his team and the supportive Ohio City community. The nomination also reflects Cleveland’s growing reputation as a food destination, with multiple local chefs and restaurants receiving Beard recognition in recent years, including Karen Small of Flying Fig and Vinnie Cimino, formerly of Greenhouse Tavern.
The James Beard Foundation will announce finalists in late March, with the awards ceremony scheduled for June in Chicago. Win or lose, the nomination has already impacted Larder’s business, with reservation requests surging and national food media reaching out for features. For Ohio City, the recognition reinforces the neighborhood’s transformation into one of Cleveland’s premier dining districts, with Larder joining acclaimed neighbors like Toast and Jaja’s Artisan Pierogi in putting the West Side on the national culinary map.