Our Twin Cities chefs/restaurants were nominated in every possible category with the exception of Outstanding Wine Program and Outstanding Wine & Spirits Professional. Come Minneapolis, for the amount of Wine Related Benefits and Spirit Professionals (Hello, Bittercube?) why did we miss out in these categories? This argument is kind of like your mom yelling at you in middle school why you got a 96 instead of a 100..you get my point.

And here are the FULL list of nominees:

Best New Restaurant: The Bachelor Farmer, Minneapolis

Outstanding Bar Program: La Belle Vie, Minneapolis

Outstanding Chef: Tim McKee, La Belle Vie, Minneapolis

Outstanding Pastry Chef: Michelle Gayer, Salty Tart Bakery, Minneapolis

Outstanding Restaurant: Restaurant Alma, Minneapolis

Outstanding Restaurateur: Richard D’Amico and Larry D'Amico, D’Amico & Partners, Minneapolis

Outstanding Service: Manny’s Steakhouse, Minneapolis

Rising Star Chef of the Year: Sameh Wadi, Saffron Restaurant & Lounge, Minneapolis

Best Chef: MidWest: Mike Brown and James Winberg, Travail Kitchen and Amusements, Robbinsdale, MN Steven Brown, Tilia, Minneapolis Doug Flicker, Piccolo, Minneapolis Russell Klein, Meritage, St. Paul, MN

Congratulations to all our Twin City nominees! If you are curious to see the full James Beard list semi-finalist nation-wide, click HERE.