Another impressive showing for local restaurants and chefs in this year's James Beard Foundation Awards - often called the "Oscars" of the food world.
Two Twin Cities restaurants are national finalists.
Minneapolis casual fine dining spot Bucheron in the Best New Restaurant category, and Bar Brava for its natural wine program in the Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program.
In addtion to those, three local chefs are in the running for the title of Best Chef: Midwest. Shigeyuki Furukawa from Kado no Mise, Karyn Tomlinson at Myriel, and Diane Moua for Diane's Place. That three of five finalists in the Midwest from the Twin Cities.
Christina Nguyen won Best Chef: Midwest for her work at Northeast Minneapolis' Hai Hai in 2024.
The Beard Awards take place June 15 in Chicago. You can see the full list of finalists here.