This MI Restaurant Was Just Named A James Beard Award Nominee

MICHIGAN — The culinary scene in Michigan is well-represented in the 2025 Restaurant and Chef Awards nominees announced Wednesday by the James Beard Foundation.

2025 is an important milestone for the James Beard Foundation: It’s the 35th anniversary of the awards, considered to be among the nation’s most prestigious honors. Awards will be presented in 25 categories this year with an expanded focus on cocktail and beverage service.

Although numerous Detroit area chefs and restaurants were named semifinalists earlier this year, just one restaurant with a pair of chefs made the cut. They are Jennifer Blakeslee and Eric Patterson of The Cooks' House in Traverse City. They are nominated for best chef in the Great Lakes region.

The Cooks' House is a small restaurant in Traverse City that offers elevated cuisine based on the day's flavors, which are routinely changing. The restaurant also offers an a la carte menu of Michigan-centric dishes as well as 5- and 7-course tasting menus that start at $105 per person.

The James Beard Awards, first presented in 1991, recognize exceptional talent in the culinary and food media industries and are often regarded as the “Oscars of culinary arts.” They recognize a range of experiences, from fine-dining restaurants to casual gems, in 22 categories.

Winners will be announced Monday, June 16, in a ceremony at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.