The carefully plated dishes as Minneapolis and St. Paul celebrate a culinary milestone that transforms local dining into national conversation. Two Twin Cities restaurants claimed prestigious James Beard Awards in June 2025, marking a historic moment for Minnesota’s evolving food scene. The irony feels perfectly Midwestern: neighborhood spots that locals considered hidden gems now shine under America’s brightest culinary spotlight.
Beneath Chicago’s Lyric Opera glittering chandeliers, Bûcheron emerged victorious as Best New Restaurant, defeating finalists from Seattle, New York, and other culinary capitals. Husband-and-wife team Adam and Jeanie Janas Ritter transformed their Kingfield neighborhood vision into national recognition within just one year of opening. Their French-American bistro serves elevated comfort food that somehow manages to feel both sophisticated and like the restaurant you’d want in your neighborhood.
“We have spent the last year and a half pushing and scraping and laughing and crying,” Jeanie Janas Ritter shared during their acceptance speech. The raw honesty captures what every restaurant owner knows: dreams require equal parts passion and stubbornness, seasoned with occasional tears over burnt sauce.
Local Talent Rises Above Competition
Across the river at Myriel in St. Paul, Karyn Tomlinson’s victory as Best Chef: Midwest represents more than personal achievement. Standing as the sole St. Paul nominee against two Minneapolis competitors, her win showcases the breadth of Twin Cities culinary excellence. Tomlinson wore her grandmother’s dress to honor family agricultural heritage, proving that the best acceptance speeches come with backstories.
“The Midwest is beautiful, diverse, tenacious, and strong. We grow great food, so let’s hear it for the Midwest,” she declared. Her restaurant blends French technique with Scandinavian and Minnesotan roots, creating what she calls “grandma cooking nouveau.” The approach celebrates local farmers and elevates comfort food into artistry that somehow tastes like both innovation and nostalgia.
Recognition Brings Delicious Complications
Victory creates the kind of problems restaurants dream about having. Myriel logged 150 new reservations through July following the announcement, demonstrating how quickly national recognition translates into local demand. Walk-in bar seating remains available for spontaneous diners who understand that sometimes the best meals happen without planning.
Meanwhile, Bûcheron adjusts staffing and releases monthly reservations to manage overwhelming interest. Counter and bar walk-in options preserve the neighborhood accessibility that made these restaurants special in the first place. The challenge becomes maintaining intimate dining experiences when the entire culinary world suddenly wants a table.
Following Owamni’s 2022 Best New Restaurant win and Christina Nguyen’s 2024 Best Chef: Midwest recognition, Minnesota’s culinary reputation continues ascending national stages. These awards position the Twin Cities alongside America’s premier dining destinations, validating what locals already suspected: exceptional dining experiences don’t require coastal zip codes, just passionate chefs committed to their craft and community.
