St. Joseph Chef up for James Beard Award

(KNSI) – A Central Minnesota chef is up for one of the most prestigious awards in cooking.

Krewe restaurant co-owner Mateo Mackbee is a semifinalist for the James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Midwest. The St. Joseph hot spot is known for serving authentic Cajun and Creole cooking, just like being on Bourbon Street. Their specialties include dishes like muffuletta, jambalaya, gumbo, and more. Mackbee’s biography states that he developed a deep love for New Orleans’ culture as he spent the summers watching his grandfather cook. The Bloomington native started to follow the family tradition of making meals in 2008.

The award goes to the cook who sets high standards in their culinary skills, shows leadership abilities and is making efforts to help create a sustainable work culture in their respective regions. Twenty were nominated in the Midwest region, which includes Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Considered to be among the nation’s most prestigious honors, the James Beard Awards recognize exceptional talent in the culinary and food industries.

The Restaurant and Chef Award nominees will be announced on Wednesday, April 2nd, and winners will be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on June 16th.

Other nominees from Minnesota include:

National Outstanding Chef:
Ann Ahmed, Khâluna, Minneapolis

National Outstanding Restaurant:
Spoon and Stable, Minneapolis

Best New Restaurant:
Bûcheron, Minneapolis
Vinai, Minneapolis

Outstanding Hospitality:
Mucci’s, St. Paul

Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages:
Bar Brava, Minneapolis

Best Chef in the Midwest:
Shigeyuki Furukawa, Kado no Mise, Minneapolis
Abraham Gessesse, Hyacinth, St. Paul
Diane Moua, Diane’s Place, Minneapolis
Karyn Tomlinson, Myriel, St. Paul

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