James Beard Awards 2025: Here are the Minnesota finalist nominees
Celebrated pastry chef opens Mpls restaurant
One of the country’s top pastry chefs has opened her first restaurant in Minneapolis. Diane Moua is a veteran of Bellecour, Spoon and Stable and received two James Beard nominations for Outstanding Pastry Chef. She’s branching out now, opening a Hmong-American eatery, Diane’s Place, in northeast Minneapolis. Visitors can pop in and get a coffee and pastry to go, or dine in with their breakfast and lunch menu. It’s located in the Food Building at the corner of Northeast Marshall Street and 14th Avenue Northeast. Diane’s Place is open from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. They are planning to add dinner service in the future.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Five Minnesotans have been named finalists in the prestigious James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards.
James Beard Award nominees
The 2025 Restaurant and Chef Awards are recognized across 28 categories, with several Twin Cities nominees. The James Beard Foundation named 11 semifinalists from Minnesota in January, with five advancing to the final round on Wednesday.
The 2025 Restaurant and Chef Award nominees from Minnesota are:
- Best new restaurant: Bûcheron in Minneapolis
- Best chef in the Midwest: Chef Shigeyuki Furukawa from Kado no Mise in Minneapolis
- Best chef in the Midwest: Chef Diane Moua from Diane’s Place in Minneapolis
- Best chef in the Midwest: Chef Karyn Tomlinson of Myriel in St. Paul
- Outstanding wine and other beverages program: Bar Brava in Minneapolis
Rep. Angie Craig nominated
What they're saying:
Rep. Angie Craig was also named a nominee for the 2025 Impact Award because of her efforts in supporting family farmers to help lower food and fuel costs for people in the United States.
"It is an honor to be named as a 2025 James Beard Impact Awards Honoree," Rep. Craig said. "From the farmers who grow the food to the chefs who bring their products to life, it takes a village to feed the world. As the granddaughter of a farm foreman and now the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, I am committed to supporting the farmers, producers and small business owners who power the food economy and will continue working to ensure that every American can put food on the table."
What's next:
The winners will be announced at a ceremony on Monday, June 16.
The Source: Information obtained from the James Beard Foundation website and Rep. Angie Craig's office.