CHICAGO 鈥 狐狸视频 must wait at least one more year to celebrate another James Beard Award winner.
Rob Connoley, the chef and owner of Bulrush in Grand Center, did not win Best Chef: Midwest at the James Beard Foundation鈥檚 annual awards Monday at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the so-called Oscars of the food world.
Christina Nguyen, of Hai Hai in Minneapolis, took home the honor.
Connoley was a first-time finalist in the Best Chef: Midwest category, which covers chefs in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
The other finalists were Ann Ahmed, of Khaluna in Minneapolis; Dan Jacobs and Dan Van Rite (jointly), of EsterEv in Milwaukee; and Tim Nicholson, of the Boiler Room in Omaha.
A 狐狸视频-based chef or restaurant has not won a James Beard Award since 2017, when Kevin Nashan, of Sidney Street Cafe, won Best Chef: Midwest.
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Also in 2017, Gioia鈥檚 Deli was one of five restaurants nationwide honored with the foundation鈥檚 America鈥檚 Classic award.
Gerard Craft of Niche was the first 狐狸视频 chef to win Best Chef: Midwest in 2015.
Among the聽multiple 狐狸视频-based chefs and restaurants announced in January as James Beard Award semifinalists, Connoley was the only finalist for Monday鈥檚 honors.
Connoley opened Bulrush in 2019 at 3307 Washington Boulevard. The restaurant features a tasting menu of modern dishes inspired by the historical cuisine of the Ozarks.
The ingredients used at Bulrush are rigorously local and seasonal, including some items Connoley and his team forage themselves. The restaurant also follows a zero-waste policy.