Tonight, Alex Roberts, chef at Restaurant Alma, was named Best Chef: Midwest at the 2010 James Beard Foundation Awards. He beat out Isaac Becker of 112 Eatery, Lenny Russo of Heartland, Gerard Craft of St. Louis-based Niche, and Colby Garrelts of Kansas City-based Bluestem. Recipients, according to the foundation, must have been a working chef for at least five years, the most recent three in the region in which they currently work, and must “have set new or consistent standards of excellence in their respective regions.” Roberts’ win makes it a two-year sweep for Minnesota: Tim McKee of La Belle Vie took home the prize in 2009.
Minneapolis-St. Paul and Upper Midwest Food Magazine // Feasting on the Bounty of the Upper Midwest