The James Beard Foundation, which just named Milwaukee’s Solly’s Grille the recipient of its 2022 America’s Classics Award, has released the names of semifinalists for this year’s chef and restaurant awards. Quite a few Wisconsin names have made the list, and many are chefs and restaurants located right here in Milwaukee.
Behold the categories and the Wisco semifinalists:
In the Outstanding Restaurateur category, Joe Muench – co-owner and executive chef of Black Shoe Hospitality, which operates Maxie’s, Blue’s Egg, Story Hill BKC and Buttermint – is one of 20 names on the list. (Milwaukee)
Nominations are open for the 2024 Unity Awards!
Know an individual or group committed to bridging divides in our community? Nominate them for a Unity Award by Oct. 31.
Other local chefs and their category noms:
- Outstanding Chef: Kyle Knall of Birch (Milwaukee)
- Outstanding Restaurant: Odd Duck (Milwaukee)
- Outstanding Pastry Chef: Nicolas Blouin, Destination Kohler (Kohler)
- Outstanding Hospitality: Sanford (Milwaukee)
- Outstanding Wine Program: L’Etoile (Madison)
- Outstanding Bar Program: Goodkind (Milwaukee)
- Best Chef: Midwest:
- Dane Baldwin, The Diplomat (Milwaukee)
- Karen Bell, Bavette La Boucherie (Milwaukee)
- Daniel Bonanno, A Pig in a Fur Coat (Madison)
- Dan Jacobs and Dan Van Rite, EsterEv (Milwaukee)
- Mary Kastman, Driftless Cafe (Viroqua)
- Gregory León, Amilinda (Milwaukee)
The finalists in the previously mentioned categories (as well as the honorees for Leadership, Lifetime Achievement Award, and Humanitarian of the Year Awards) will be revealed on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, in Scottsdale, Ariz. Nominees for the James Beard Foundation Media Awards will be released on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, in New York City.
