Minnesota's Best Restaurants and Chefs Now James Beard Finalists

Back when the semifinalists were announced in January, Minnesota made a big splash with 11 nominations. Now that the finalist list is out, the Land of 10,000 Lakes is still holding strong with an impressive showing.

This is a huge win, especially considering that only one spot from Wisconsin made the cut and not a single place in Iowa was even mentioned. Minnesota's definitely making its mark!

The mission of the James Beard Awards® is to recognize exceptional

talent and achievement in the culinary arts, hospitality, media, and
broader food system, as well as a demonstrated commitment to

equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive.

Minnesota's Best Restaurants and Chefs Now James Beard Finalists

Up first, the best new restaurant category which highlights restaurants that opened between October 1st, 2023 and September 30th, 2024. "These are restaurants that already demonstrates excellence in cuisine, seems likely to make a significant impact in years to come, and demonstrates consistent excellence in food, atmosphere, hospitality, and operations."

Best New Restaurant:

Bûcheron located on Nicollet Ave in Minneapolis.

Related: Minnesota's Hot New Restaurant Now One of the Best in the World

Minnesota has one finalist in the outstanding wine and other beverage program category which showcases "restaurants that demonstrate exceptional care and skill in the pairing of wine and other beverages with food."

Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program:

Bar Brava - a natural wine bar and scratch kitchen in Minneapolis.

And three of the five chefs that were nominated for best Chef in the Midwest are still representing. This category is to "recognize chefs who set high standards in their culinary skills and leadership abilities and who are making efforts to help create a sustainable work culture in their respective regions."

A Minnesota chef actually won this category last year - Christina Nguyen of Minneapolis' Hai Hai.

This year's finalists for Best Chefs in the Midwest include:

Shigeyuki Furukawa from Kado no Mise in Minneapolis.

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Diane Moua from Diane's Place in Minneapolis.

Related: Experts Say This is Minnesota's Best Mom and Pop Restaurant

Karyn Tomlinson the culinary genius behind Myriel in St. Paul.

The winners will be crowned on June 9th in Chicago. Will Minnesota bring home some gold? With several standout restaurants in the mix, it’s hard not to get excited!

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Every 'Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives' Episode that Features a Minnesota Restaurant

One of the most popular shows on Food Network is easily 'Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives'. Guy Fieri has come to Minnesota for many episodes. Here are the ones that feature Minnesota restaurants.

Gallery Credit: Carly Ross