10 Minnesota chefs and restaurants named James Beard Awards semifinalists

Ten Minnesota restaurants and chefs have been named semifinalists for a 2026 James Beard Award. The list includes two in the category of outstanding chef and four for best chef in the Midwest.

The James Beard Awards are among the restaurant industry’s most prestigious honors.

Nominees for the 2026 awards will be announced on March 31 with an awards ceremony for winners on June 15 in Chicago.

In 2025, Bûcheron in Minneapolis won best new restaurant, Myriel chef Karyn Tomlinson from St. Paul won best Midwest chef and TPT won a media award for “Relish,” featuring chef Yia Vang.

Outstanding Restaurateur

• Mike Brown, Bob Gerken and James Winberg, Travail Collective (Travail Kitchen & Amusements, ie by Travail, and Dream Creamery), Robbinsdale

Outstanding Chef

• Ann Ahmed, Khâluna, Minneapolis

• Alex Roberts, Alma, Minneapolis

Outstanding Restaurant

• Bar La Grassa, Minneapolis

Emerging Chef

• Kyle Lussier, The Pines, Grand Rapids

Outstanding Hospitality

• Joan‘s in the Park, St. Paul

Best Chef: Midwest

• Shigeyuki Furukawa, Kado No Mise, Minneapolis

• Diane Moua, Diane’s Place, Minneapolis

• Gustavo Romero and Kate Romero, Oro by Nixta, Minneapolis

• Yia Vang, Vinai, Minneapolis

• How to address rising food insecurity
• Where do leftovers from the Minnesota State Fair go?
• From lake to table: Turning Minnesota's invasive crayfish into a local delicacy
• Here’s what 15 Minnesota food influencers liked, disliked at the State Fair