St. Louis chefs Gerard Craft and Kevin Nashan have both won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Midwest in 2015 and 2017, respectively.
Once again this year, a respectable number of St. Louis’ restaurants and chefs received nominations when the semifinalists for this year’s James Beard Awards were announced last month.
Finalists were announced this morning.
None of the St. Louis nominees advanced this year, which is an anomaly. A St. Louis chef has made it to the final round for the last seven years.
Gerard Craft advanced and won the Beard award for Best Chef: Midwest in 2015. Kevin Nashan won the same award two years later. Last year, Gioia’s Deli received the America’s Classics Award, one of only five restaurants in the country to receive the prestigious honor in 2017.
Receiving semifinalist nominations this year were Ben Grupe, Elaia; Lona Luo, Lona's Lil Eats; Ashley Shelton, Sardella; and Mike Randolph, Privado. Vicia was named for Best New Restaurant and Tony’s for Outstanding Service.
