Amid all the darkness of the restaurant scene in Minnesota right now—some light. National recognition for 10 different chefs and restaurants in the form of the James Beard Foundation long list of semifinalists. The long list is step one to becoming a finalist and ultimately an award winner, and expectations are high after last year’s epic performance for Minnesota chefs when Karyn Tomlinson from Myriel won Best Chef: Midwest and Bûcheron took Best New Restaurant in the country. (Restaurant and Chef nominees will be announced on March 31, and winners June 15 in Chicago.)
Overdue recognition for the Travail crew, who took some major steps in the past two years towards expanding their restaurant empire. They’ve been semifinalists in the Best Chef: Midwest category, but Mike Brown, Bob Gerken, and James Winberg’s Travail Collective not only runs the flagship Travail Kitchen & Amusements in Robbinsdale, they have two locations of Pig Ate My Pizza, ie by Travail, Dream Creamery, and Graze Food Hall.
Courtesy of Travail Kitchen & Amusements
Chef Ann Ahmed has been doing all the right things to get on the national radar as Outstanding Chef—and this year she’s on the long list. She’s been cooking at the Beard House, she’s been doing events with other Beard Award winning chefs around the country, and her Khâluna and Gai Noi continue setting the standard here. Alex Roberts also on the long list for Outstanding Chef, and he’s an icon at this point. Twenty-five years of Restaurant Alma, the expansion of Brasa to Hopkins, he’s a great human and a mentor to dozens of chefs in our community.
How about Bar La Grassa for Outstanding Restaurant!? In a time of absolute change in restaurants, BLG has been consistently excellent since 2009. Great to see it on this list.
Courtesy of The Pines
Kyle Lussier from The Pines in Grand Rapids makes the list as Emerging Chef—he’s had some publicity from Joy Summers in the Minnesota Star Tribune this year, as well independent food writer Kirstie Kimball, and it’s time for me to take a drive up to Grand Rapids.
I’ve been writing and covering Joan’s in the Park since it opened—I love seeing it honored for Outstanding Hospitality. Last year Mucci’s was in this category. Is it a coincidence that the last two years, St. Paul spots have been in this mix? Good for Joan Schmitt, the Owner and Maître d’ as well as executive chef/owner Susan Dunlop.
The Best Chef Midwest long list has a lot of competition from Milwaukee, St. Louis, and around the region, but it’s great to see Shigeyuki Furukawa for Kado No Mise, Yia Vang for Vinai, and Diane Moua for Diane’s Place back on this list again. Oro by Nixta was in the mix for Best New Restaurant when it opened, and I love seeing Gustavo and Kate Romero here for Best Chef: Midwest.
Photo by Kevin Kramer
Snubs? I’ll never understand why Sarah Botcher and Black Walnut Bakery don’t get national love. John Kraus had a moment in 2015/2016 as Outstanding Baker semifinalist and that was it. For Best New Bar, Stargazer should have been on the list in my view, and I know she doesn’t covet the attention but Megan Luedtke deserves a spot on the long list for Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service. (Here’s my podcast with her.)
Previous Minnesota Winners:
Best Chef Midwest: Karyn Tomlinson (2025); Christina Ngyuen (2024); Ann Kim (2019); Gavin Kaysen (2018); Paul Berglund (2016); Isaac Becker (2011); Alex Roberts (2010); Tim McKee (2009); Lucia Watson (2006); Best New Restaurant: Bucheron (2025); Owamni (2022).
