Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
From indo, thonmaguro sashimi (bluefin tuna) with akami, chutoro, otoro, accompanied by assorted pickles, fresh wasabi, and shiso
The semifinalists for the 2020 James Beard Awards were announced this morning, and St. Louis restaurants and chefs came away with eight nominations, up from seven last year.
Four local chefs (out of 20 nominees) were nominated for Best Chef: Midwest - Michael Gallina for Vicia (a second nomination); Lona Luo for Lona’s Lil Eats (a third nomination); Jesse Mendica for Olive + Oak (a third nomination); and Loryn Nalic for Balkan Treat Box (her first nomination).
Indo was a double-nominee: chef-owner Nick Bognar was nominated for Rising Star Chef of the Year (a second nomination), and indo for Best New Restaurant, a national category.
For Best Baker, another national category, Nathaniel Reid of Nathaniel Reid Bakery received his second semi-finalist nomination.
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
And perhaps the biggest (yet well deserved) surprise, Qui Tran’s Mai Lee was nominated for the first time in the most prestigious national category of all, Outstanding Restaurant.
Scratch Brewing Company, the foraging-focused farmhouse brewery in Ava, Il, was nominated the category of Outstanding Wine, Spirits, or Beer Producer, another national category.
The finalist round will be announced on March 25, and winners will be announced at the annual gala held at Lyric Opera of Chicago on May 4.
