The James Beard Foundation Awards showcase everything great about food in America.

Each year, the foundations recognizes innovative chefs and daring restaurants, as well as the authors, reviewers and other committed foodies who tell wonderful stories and help elevate our collective culinary standards.

The Midwest is well represented in this year’s cadre of award recipients, announced during celebrations May 3 and May 6.

Congratulations to the following Midwest winners:

Radio Show/Audio Webcast

Fear of Frying 
Host: Nina Barrett, Evanston, Ill.
Area: WBEZ
Producer: Lynette Kalsnes

Outstanding Personality/Host 

Host: Andrew Zimmern, St. Louis Park, Minn.
Show: Bizarre Foods America
Network: Travel Channel
Producers: Colleen Needles Steward and Andrew Zimmern

MFK Fisher Distinguished Writing Award 

Mike Sula, Chicago
Chicago Reader
“Chicken of the Trees”

Best Chef of the Midwest

Bluestem
Colby Garrelts
Kansas City, Mo.

Food Politics, Policy, and the Environment

Tracie McMillan, Detroit native
The American Prospect with the Food & Environment Reporting Network
“As Common As Dirt”

Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)

Stephanie Izard
Girl & the Goat
Chicago

Outstanding Bar Program

The Aviary
Chicago

Outstanding Chef 

Paul Kahan
Blackbird
Chicago

America’s Classics Award

Kramarczuk’s 
Minneapolis
Owner: Orest Kramarczuk