Vicia’s Michael Gallina is a finalist for Beard Foundation's Best Chef: Midwest

Three cheers for Vicia chef and co-owner Michael Gallina – the James Beard Foundation announced today, March 27, that he is a finalist for the Best Chef: Midwest. 

Gallina, who co-owns Vicia with his wife, Tara Gallina, said he was overwhelmed by the honor.

“Incredible. Blown away. I think this was always a dream of mine, and I’m just completely in shock,” he said. “Pretty much speechless. It’s just a reflection on the incredible team that we have at the restaurant. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

Read More // Best New Restaurant of 2017: Vicia

As Sauce reported last month, the James Beard Foundation named four St. Louis-area chefs as semifinalists for Best Chef: Midwest: Gallina, Lona Luo of Lona’s Lil’ Eats, Jesse Mendica of Olive & Oak and Ny Vongsaly of Billie-Jean.

Nathaniel Reid of Nathaniel Reid Bakery was nominated for Outstanding Baker, Nick Bognar of Nippon Tei was nominated for Rising Star Best Chef of the Year and Planter’s House was tagged as a semifinalist for Best Bar Program.

The other Best Chef: Midwest finalists are Michael Corvino of Corvino in Kansas City, Ann Kim at Pizzeria Lola in Minneapolis, Jamie Malone of Grand Cafe in Minneapolis and Christina Nguyen of Hai Hai in Minneapolis. The James Beard Foundation will announce the chef and restaurant award winners at a gala in Chicago on Monday, May 6.

Catherine Klene is managing editor, digital, and Adam Rothbarth is a staff writer at Sauce Magazine.