The finalists for the 2013 James Beard Foundation Awards were announced via Twitter today.
Gerard Craft (pictured), chef-owner of Niche, Brasserie, Taste and Pastaria, remains in the running in the Best Chef: Midwest category.
Other chefs who made the cut for the title are: Justin Aprahamian (Sanford, Milwaukee, Wisc.), Colby Garrelts (Bluestem, Kansas City, Mo.), Michelle Gayer (Salty Tart, Minneapolis, Minn.) and Jack Riebel (Butcher & The Boar, Minneapolis, Minn.)
The Midwest category covers an eight-state region which includes: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
The other St. Louis chef who had been named a semifinalist in the Best Chef: Midwest category this year was Kevin Nashan, chef-owner of Sidney Street Cafe.
Winners of the chef and restaurant awards will be announced at a gala ceremony held in NYC on May 6. Good luck, Chef!
— photo by Carmen Troesser
This article appears in March 2013.