MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Nine Twin Cities chefs and four restaurants have been named semifinalists in the most prestigious awards given to the nation’s restaurants and chefs. The James Beard Foundation announced the long list of nominees, finalists will be named on March 27 and the awards will be given in Chicago on May 6. In the most competitive national categories, six different local chefs and restaurants will compete. Best New Restaurant: Popol Vuh. This Northeast Minneapolis restaurant takes a modern, fine-dining look at Mexican cuisine. Rising Star Chef of the Year: Rikki Giambruno, Hyacinth, St. Paul. Giambruno is a native St. Paul resident who left New York to open an Italian restaurant on Grand Avenue. Rising Star Chef is for chefs age 30 or younger. Outstanding Pastry Chef: Diane Moua, Spoon and Stable. Moua was a national semifinalist in 2016, 2017 and last year she made it to the finals as a nominee. Outstanding Restaurant: Restaurant Alma, Minneapolis. Alma was a semifinalist in 2012, its chef and owner Alex Robarts was a semifinalist as Outstanding Chef in 2018. Outstanding Restauranteur: Brenda Langton and Timothy Kane; Spoonriver, Minneapolis. Langton is one of the pioneers of the vegetarian restaurant movemement in the Twin Cities with Café Brenda, this is her first-time as a Beard Award semifinalist. “My husband and I have worked side by side for all these years and to be nominated together is really an honor,” said Langton. “We’ve been at it a long time, I’m all about trying to be a part of this community and help make a change for healthiness and sustainability, it’s so exciting,” she said. “I’m ecstatic.” Outstanding Wine Program: The Bachelor Farmer, Minneapolis. Known for its unique approach to a Northern latitude wine program, The Bachelor Farmer has never been a semifinalist in this category. There are 10 regional categories for best chef, and it’s that category where Minneapolis and St. Paul chefs really shine in these nominations. Best Chef: Midwest Thomas Boemer, In Bloom, St. Paul (a semifinalist in 2016, 2017, 2018) Steven Brown, Tilia, Minneapolis (semifinalist 2012, 2013, 2014, a nominee in 2017, 2018) Daniel del Prado, Martina, Minneapolis (first-time semifinalist) Ann Kim, Young Joni, Minneapolis (semifinalist 2017, nominee in 2018) Jamie Malone, Grand Café, Minneapolis (2014 semifinalist for Sea Change, 2018 semifinalist for Grand Café) Christina Nguyen, Hai Hai, Minneapolis (2018 semifinalist) Karyn Tomlinson, Corner Table, Minneapolis (first-time semifinalist) Semifinalists are selected from an open call for entries by the Restaurant and Chef Committee of the Beard Awards, based on eligibility and regional representation. The list of semifinalists is voted on by more than 600 judges from around the country – including leading regional restaurant critics, food and wine editors, culinary educators and past James Beard Award winners.<doc-sep>Inside An Intimate Minneapolis Restaurant That Had the Audacity to Open In the Midst of the Pandemic Petite León finally gets its chance to fully shine<doc-sep>Twin Cities chefs and restaurants garnered 13 nominations for the James Beard Awards, considered the creme de la creme of national culinary awards. On Wednesday, the James Beard Foundation announced the restaurant and chef award semifinalists. The Twin Cities movers and shakers who made the list are: Best New Restaurant: Popol Vuh, Minneapolis Popol Vuh, Minneapolis Outstanding Pastry Chef: Diane Moua, Spoon and Stable, Minneapolis Diane Moua, Spoon and Stable, Minneapolis Outstanding Restaurant: Restaurant Alma, Minneapolis Restaurant Alma, Minneapolis Outstanding Restaurateur: Brenda Langton and Timothy Kane, Spoonriver, Minneapolis Brenda Langton and Timothy Kane, Spoonriver, Minneapolis Outstanding Wine Program: The Bachelor Farmer, Minneapolis The Bachelor Farmer, Minneapolis Rising Star Chef of the Year: Rikki Giambruno, Hyacinth, St. Paul, Rikki Giambruno, Hyacinth, St. Paul, Best Chef: Midwest: Thomas Boemer, In Bloom, St. Paul; Steven Brown, Tilia, Minneapolis; Daniel del Prado, Martina, Minneapolis; Ann Kim, Young Joni, Minneapolis; Jamie Malone, Grand Cafe, Minneapolis; Christina Nguyen, Hai Hai, Minneapolis; Karyn Tomlinson, Corner Table, Minneapolis The nominees were among 20 to 30 selected in each category. Finalists will be revealed March 27, and the winners will be announced May 6. For more information, go to jamesbeard.org/awards.<doc-sep>Adding to its list of culinary accolades, the greater Houston area has received a total of 11 semifinalist nominations for the 2019 James Beard Chef and Restaurant Awards. Among the semifinalists are long-time locale The Original Ninfa's on Navigation, which is up against 19 national restaurants for Outstanding Restaurant, and Indigo Chef Jonny Rhodes, who is in the running against 22 chefs for Rising Star Chef of the Year. Across the state, Texas received 27 nominations in five cities: Houston, Austin, Dallas, Lubbock, San Antonio and Pearland. The awards are often referred to as the "Oscars of the food world," covering categories such as Best New Restaurant and Outstanding Chef. This year Houston will also play an additional role in the awards — it was selected to host the announcement of the award finalists on March 27. The winners will be announced in Chicago on May 6. Here are the Houston semifinalists: Outstanding Bar Program: Anvil Bar & Refuge Outstanding Chef: Chris Shepherd, Georgia James Outstanding Restaurant: The Original Ninfa's on Navigation Outstanding Restaurateur: Tracy Vaught, H Town Restaurant Group (Hugo's, Caracol, Xochi, among others) Outstanding Service: Hugo's Outstanding Service: Tony's Outstanding Wine Program: Pappas Bros. Steakhouse at the Galleria Rising Star Chef of the Year: Jonathan "Jonny" Rhodes, Restaurant Indigo Best Chef Southwest: Kaiser Lashkari, Himalaya Best Chef Southwest: Trong Nguyen, Crawfish & Noodles Best Chef Southwest: Ronnie Killen, Killen's Steakhouse View the full list of nominations, here. Subscribe to Today in Houston Fill out the form below to subscribe our new daily editorial newsletter from the HPM Newsroom. Email* First Name Last Name * required<doc-sep>
Just remember this the next time someone complains about Midwestern food. TV host Bill Maher last week patronizingly likened Midwest food to "Chef Boyardee," so here's a story to prove how wrong he is. That's because Twin Cities restaurants are once again well represented in the semifinals of the prestigious James Beard Foundation Awards. The James Beard contenders were announced on Wednesday morning, with Minnesota competing in six national categories. Meanwhile, seven Twin Cities chefs are in the running for the regional "Best Chef: Midwest" award that was won last year by Spoon & Stable's Gavin Kaysen. National contenders include Rikki Giambruno of St. Paul's Hyacinth, who is in the running for Rising Star Chef of the Year, while Spoon & Stable/Bellecour's Diane Moua is once again nominated for Pastry Chef of the Year. Restaurant Alma in Northeast Minneapolis is nominated in the "Outstanding Restaurant" category – the equivalent of a "Best Picture" Oscar –while another Northeast eatery, Mexican-inspired Popol Vuh, is in the running for "Best New Restaurant." The chefs competing for this year's title of "Best Chef: Midwest" include Thomas Boemer, of the acclaimed "In Bloom" at St. Paul's Keg & Case food hall, Daniel del Prado of Martina, and Christina Nguyen of the celebrated Hai Hai. Here's a full list of the Minnesota nominees. Rising Star Chef of the Year Rikki Giambruno, Hyacinth, St. Paul Best New Restaurant Popol Vuh, Minneapolis Outstanding Pastry Chef Diane Moua, Spoon and Stable, Minneapolis Outstanding Restaurant Restaurant Alma, Minneapolis Outstanding Restaurateur Brenda Langton and Timothy Kane, Spoonriver, Minneapolis Outstanding wine program The Bachelor Farmer, Minneapolis Best Chef: Midwest Thomas Boemer, In Bloom, St. Paul Steven Brown, Tilia, Minneapolis Daniel del Prado, Martina, Minneapolis Ann Kim, Young Joni, Minneapolis Christina Nguyen, Hai Hai, Minneapolis Karyn Tomlinson, Corner Table, Minneapolis Jamie Malone, Grand Café, Minneapolis