Cambridge Pastry Chef Monica Glass Named 2026 Semifinalist For James Beard Awards

CAMBRIDGE, MA — A local chef has been named a semifinalist for a prestigious national award.

Monica Glass of Verveine Cafe and Bakery, is one of the 15 chefs and restaurants in Massachusetts named as 2026 James Beard semifinalists, which was announced by the organization on Wednesday.

Sometimes known as the “Oscars of food,” the awards recognize eateries and chefs who create exceptional food, food media content, and better food systems, the James Beard Foundation said. Awards also recognize a demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive. They have been a definitive source for culinary excellence for more than 35 years.

Verveine Cafe and Bakery is located at 298 Massachusetts Ave.and offers a diverse menu of breakfast items, sandwiches, and desserts. The cafe is dedicated to being fully gluten-free. The business opened in May of 2024 by Glass and fellow chef Ken Oringer. The gluten-free menu was reportedly inspired by Glass’s own celiac diagnosis, while Oringer has a close family member who also has the disease.

Glass said she was honored to be in the running for a James Beard Award, however accoldaes and acknowledgements are secondary in her daily life as a chef.

"The James Beard Awards are a huge honor... I’ve always admired the foundation and how they’ve sought to bring recognition and purpose to our culinary community," Glass told Patch. "However, I’m fulfilling my purpose, which is to give people a space where they feel comfortable and safe to enjoy food together so they can live free of gluten, full of life. Bring them happiness and inclusion through food. That has always been my mission."

Glass became a chef in 2005, after pivoting from a year in public relations. She began as a pastry assistant for multiple restaurants in New York City before becoming a pastry department leader at a restaurant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She first partnered with Oringer in 2012 when the pair worked together at the former Clio restaurant in Boston. Glass was the Executive Pastry Chef for the establishment for two and a half years.

"My actual career path has taken many twists and turns, but at the end of the day, I’ve created my own luck. I’ve always sought out to learn from the best, so I could be my best," Glass told Patch. "And every day I try to do my best."

The Pennsylvania native has received multiple other media recognitions throughout her career. In 2021, she appeared on the Food Network’s former show “Chopped Sweets” in which she was very successful on the program.

See Also: 15 MA Restaurants, Chefs Named 2026 James Beard Semifinalists

Receiving a James Beard Award can be transformational for restaurants and chefs. Recognition of any kind — whether as a semifinalist, nominee, or winner — can lead to significant visibility, new opportunities, and positive economic impact that helps sustain these vital businesses. In 2025, 96 percent of surveyed semifinalists reported a positive impact on their business and communities following their recognition, the organization said in a news release.

Nominees will be announced on March 31, and winners will be announced at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on June 15 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.