Sidney Street Cafe's Kevin Nashan wins James Beard Award

By Catherine Klene // May 1, 2017

Raise a glass to Sidney Street Cafe chef-owner Kevin Nashan – winner of the 2017 James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: Midwest.

Nashan received the honor tonight, May 1, at the James Beard Foundation Awards gala at the Lyric Opera House in Chicago.

This is Nashan’s first win and third finalist nod, and it’s St. Louis’ second James Beard award. Niche Food Group chef-owner Gerard Craft won Best Chef: Midwest in 2015.

The James Beard award recognizes “chefs who have set new or consistent standards of excellence in their respective regions,” according to the culinary organization’s website. The Midwest category considered restaurants from Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Four others were nominated in this category, including another hometown chef: Farmhaus chef-owner Kevin Willmann of St. Louis, Steven Brown of Tilia in Minneapolis, Justin Carlisle of Ardent in Milwaukee and Jorge Guzman of Brewer’s Table at Surly Brewing Co. in Minneapolis.

sandwich from gioia's deli // photo courtesy of gioia's deli

This wasn’t St. Louis’ only honor of the evening. The Beard Foundation named Gioia’s Deli an America’s Classic, an honor reserved for restaurants that serve delicious food and reflect the characters of their communities. Gioia’s Deli, which began as a grocery store on The Hill, will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year.

For coverage of the Beard Foundation gala, follow Sauce on Twitter and Instagram.

Catherine Klene is managing editor at Sauce Magazine.