MN Chef Wins James Beard Award

MINNESOTA — A Minneapolis chef was honored at Monday’s James Beard Foundation Awards ceremony at the Lyric Opera in Chicago.

The awards, regarded as the Academy Awards of the U.S. restaurant industry, honor excellence across a range of categories, from fine dining to casual gems.

Christina Nguyen of Hai Hai in Minneapolis won Best Chef — Midwest. The Southeast Asian street food restaurant and bar is located in the Northeast neighborhood.

The menu is inspired by dishes that Nguyen grew up eating at home, at family celebrations, in Vietnamese Sunday school basements, and during several trips to Southeast Asia.

Nguyen was previously been nominated in the category five times.

"Thank you so much to my teams, past and present. Without you none of this is possible," Nguyen said at the ceremony, according to the Star Tribune. "Your consistency and dedication to excellence is so inspiring to me."

“These remarkable individuals embody the very essence of our Good Food for Good ethos, showcasing exceptional talent, unwavering dedication to their craft, and a steadfast commitment to elevating the industry,” James Beard Foundation CEO Clare Reichenbach said in a news release. “With their passion, skill, and leadership, they are shaping our nation's dining landscape and setting a new standard for culinary excellence.”

Established in 1990, with the first ceremony taking place in 1991, the Restaurant and Chef Awards is one of five separate recognition programs for the foundation’s awards.

The 2024 Restaurant and Chef Awards winners are recognized across 22 categories.