Minneapolis Chef Wins James Beard Award

MINNEAPOLIS — A chef in Minneapolis was honored with a James Beard Award at a ceremony in Chicago. The awards are considered the Oscar Awards of the culinary industry.

The awards were presented in the restaurant, chef and restaurant design categories on Monday. Special achievement awards were presented for Lifetime Achievement, Design Icon, America’s Classics and Humanitarian of the Year.

Ann Kim, of Young Joni in Minneapolis, won best chef in the Midwest region.

Go here to see all the winners.

The James Beard Foundation has presented the awards for more than 30 years. This year’s theme was “Good Food For Good,” which the foundation says is synonymous with its mission.

Gala reception chefs from across the country included past James Beard Award winners and many who are involved in the foundation’s signature impact-oriented initiatives, from Smart Catch to Women’s Leadership Programs to the Chefs Boot Camp for Policy and Change.

Nearly 2,000 people attended the gala, held at Lyric Opera in Chicago. The ceremony was emceed by Emmy-nominated actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson. VIP guests were treated to a multi-course dinner and experience in the mezzanine boxes during the awards show prepared by chefs from the esteemed Union Square Hospitality Group.