2026 D.C.-MARYLAND-VIRGINIA RISING STARS AWARDS

Along the Chesapeake Bay, a bustling culinary culture is meeting the moment and showing the world that there is more to the region than blue crabs and bureaucracy. At every turn, instability and uncertainty gave way to creativity and innovation as we explored the hospitality communities of Baltimore, D.C., and Richmond. We saw hardworking people serving deeply personal food and drink without too much fanfare. Humility, combined with an undeniable dedication to taking care of others, has set these communities up for success. Even as political tensions and economic obstacles arise, these restaurant professionals are always adapting and, in the meantime, producing some of the strongest food and drink in the country.

Down in Richmond, hospitality professionals are firing on all cylinders while also working to preserve their tight-knit, supportive community as a wave of development and outside investment has shifted the status quo. In Baltimore, community-oriented, independent restaurants have become more prominent with local restaurateurs committed to building spaces for the people who call the city home. And despite the challenges of the government shutdown, national guardsmen, and immigration enforcement, Washington, D.C.’s chefs, bartenders, sommeliers, and restaurateurs remained hopeful through it all and more determined than ever to serve those in their community. The city is used to change. Changing administrations, tourism, and pandemics have made their mark, but as chefs and restaurateurs in the city will tell you, they have not changed what makes this region shine.

The next generation of leaders in Baltimore, D.C., and Richmond are “building places rooted in purpose, care, and craft,” says Rising Stars alum Chef Kevin Tien in his letter to the local hospitality community. “Hospitality is not just about what’s on the plate, but how people are treated along the way.” With a focus on the wellbeing of staff, industry peers, and guests, the region continues to set an example for the rest of the country, demonstrating the high standards and potential of creative, comfortable, and considerate hospitality.