10 Minnesota chefs, restaurants recognized as 2026 James Beard semifinalists

A double-digit contingent of Minnesota chefs and restaurants is in the running for James Beard Award recognition this year.

Several of the 10 semifinalists have been in the mix before and are in search of their first James Beard award, while two are nominated for the first time.

Chefs Mike Brown and Bob Gerken of Travail Collective — who are Outstanding Restaurateur semifinalists alongside their partner, James Winberg — were each recognized as semifinalists five times from 2012 to 2017.

Ann Ahmed, chef and owner of Khâluna in Minneapolis, is a semifinalist for Outstanding Chef for the second straight year. She was also a finalist for Best Chef: Midwest in 2024.

Diane Moua, owner of Diane’s Place in Minneapolis, came up short as a finalist for Best Chef: Midwest last year and is again a semifinalist for the award. She was named a semifinalist for Best Pastry Chef five years in a row from 2016-20, advancing as a finalist two of those years.

Shigeyuko Furukawa, chef of the innovative Minneapolis sushi restaurant Kado No Mise, is again in the running for Best Chef: Midwest after advancing as a finalist last year.

Oro by Nixta in Minneapolis was a finalist for Best New Restaurant in 2024; this year, the establishment’s owners, chefs Gustavo and Kate Romero, are semifinalists for Best Chef: Midwest.

First-time semifinalists include Joan’s in the Park in St. Paul and Kyle Lussier, chef of The Pines in Grand Rapids.

Some others are looking to add to their accolades.

For the third time, chef Yia Vang — famous for his Hmong cuisine — is a semifinalist for Best Chef: Midwest; his PBS show, “Relish,” was honored at the James Beard Broadcast Media Awards last year.

Chef Alexander Roberts of Alma in Minneapolis won Best Chef: Midwest in 2010 and for the third time is a semifinalist for Outstanding Chef.

North Loop Italian standout Bar la Grassa, among the semifinalists for Outstanding Restaurant, took home Best New Restaurant in 2010.

Here is the full list of Minnesota semifinalists:

Outstanding Restaurateur

Mike Brown, Bob Gerken, and James Winberg, Travail Collective (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)

The James Beard Foundation will announce finalists for the Restaurant and Chef Awards on March 31 ahead of the award ceremony on June 15.
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