MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota has once again earned recognition both nationally and regionally for outstanding food service, landing seven restaurants on the James Beard Foundation's 2024 Restaurant and Chef Awards semifinalist list.
The list, announced by the foundation Wednesday, includes local haunts contending in the awards' Outstanding Chef, Best New Restaurant, Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker and Outstanding Bar nationally, while three Twin Cities-area businesses vie for Best Chefs Midwest Region.
National:
- Outstanding Chef - Daniel del Prado, Porzana, Minneapolis, MN
- Best New Restaurant - Oro by Nixta, Minneapolis, MN
- Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker - Marc Heu, Marc Heu Pâtisserie Paris, St. Paul, MN
- Outstanding Bar - Meteor, Minneapolis, MN
Regional:
Best Chefs Midwest Region
- Ann Ahmed, Khâluna, Minneapolis, MN
- Christina Nguyen, Hai Hai, Minneapolis, MN
- Karyn Tomlinson, Myriel, St. Paul, MN
Lisa Carlson and Carrie Summer of Bay City, Wisconsin's Chef Shack Bay City, were also nominated for the regional honor. While the eatery is now located in Wisconsin, Carlson and Summer first launched their business in the Twin Cities.
KARE 11's Gordon Severson spoke with the owners of Oro, Kate and Gustavo Romero, who said they never imagined their little Mexican restaurant in northeast Minneapolis would be nominated for a national award.
"We're very grateful," said Gustavo.
The idea came during the pandemic, when both had jobs at other local restaurants. They said when things got really tough, they looked for other ways to help pay the bills.
"We just did what we could," said Kate.
"... which was tortillas," added Gustavo.
The tortillas caught on, so they tried out ready-made meals and takeout. Eventually, they decided to open a small restaurant, featuring authentic ingredients — and lots of corn. That's where their company's name comes from, and it's the message behind these words hanging in their dining room.
"Without corn we have no country."
The duo brings corn in straight from Mexico, using several different kinds in their recipes.
While the Romeros say it's all very exciting, they say they really aren't prepared for what might happen next.
"It's only been a couple hours," said Kate.
"That was the first thing we thought about was like, 'What's going to happen now?'"
James Bear Award finalists will be announced on April 3, followed by the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on June 10 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Many establishments and restaurateurs in Minnesota have already received the distinct honor of being nominated in recent years, including 2022 Best Restaurant winner Owamni by the Sioux Chef, which was erected by business partners Sean Sherman and Dana Thompson.
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