13 Twin Cities Restaurants, Chefs Nominated For Prestigious James Beard Awards

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — The James Beard Foundation announced Wednesday its list of restaurant and chef award semifinalists for the 27th annual James Beard Foundation Awards, and 13 Twin Cities restaurants and chefs were picked among a list of more than 24,000 online entries.

The prestigious group of semifinalists in 21 categories represents a wide range of culinary talent, from exceptional chefs and dining destinations in ten different regions across the U.S., to the nation’s top wine and spirits professionals, best new restaurants, rising star chefs, pastry chefs, and bakers.

Tell Patch: Have you eaten or sampled a cocktail at any of these establishments? Leave a review in the comments.

Local Award Nominees

Best New Restaurant

Esker Grove at the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis

Outstanding Baker

Michelle Gayer, Salty Tart, Minneapolis

Outstanding Bar Program

Marvel Bar, Minneapolis

Outstanding Chef

Alex Roberts, Restaurant Alma, Minneapolis

Outstanding Pastry Chef

Diane Yang, Spoon and Stable, Minneapolis

Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI)

• Thomas Boemer, Corner Table, Minneapolis
• Steven Brown, Tilia, Minneapolis
• Jim Christiansen, Heyday, Minneapolis
• Jorge Guzman, Brewer’s Table at Surly Brewing Co., Minneapolis
• Erick Harcey, Upton 43, Minneapolis
• Ann Kim, Young Joni, Minneapolis
• Mike Brown, Bob Gerken, James Winberg, Travail Kitchen & Amusements, Robbinsdale, MN
• Lisa Carlson, Chef Shack, Bay City, WI

On Wednesday, March 15, the foundation will announce the final nominees. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, April 25.

How the Restaurant and Chef Awards Work

The James Beard Foundation holds an online open call for entries beginning in mid-October of each year.
This year, over 24,000 entries were received, a list which the Restaurant and Chef Committee reviews to
determine eligibility and regional representation, according to a news release.

Based on the results and eligibility requirements for each award, the committee then produces a nominating ballot that lists the semifinalists in each of the 21 restaurant and chef award categories.

The list of semifinalists is then sent to an independent volunteer panel of more than 600 judges from
across the country. This panel, which comprises leading regional restaurant critics, food and wine editors,
culinary educators, and past James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Award winners, votes on
specific award categories to determine the final five nominees in each category.

The same judges then vote on these five nominees to select the winners.

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