Minneapolis chefs and Best Chef: Midwest nominees Shigeyuki Furukawa and Diane Moua before the start of the James Beard Awards in Chicago’s Lyric Opera on Monday. (Provided by Shigeyuki Furukawa)
Going into Monday’s ceremony, Minnesota was already off to a strong, award-winning start.
On Sunday, the James Beard Foundation held its inaugural Impact Awards to recognize “changemakers actively working to push for standards that create a more equitable, sustainable, and economically viable restaurant industry and food system for producers, workers, and consumers alike.” U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, who represents Minnesota’s Second Congressional District, was one of five honorees.
Although Craig did not attend the ceremony in Chicago — the hunt was still on for the suspect in the shootings of state House DFL leader Melissa Hortman her husband Mark and state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette — she did send a statement accepting the award:
“Food should not be a privilege – but the ability to gather around the dinner table with folks you love certainly is. I’m especially reminded of that this weekend in Minnesota,” she said. “In times like these, it’s more important than ever that we find strength in community. So, I want to thank the James Beard Foundation community — and my fellow honorees — for creating this incredible community that is making a difference in the lives of everyday people.”
And on Saturday, TPT’s locally produced show “Relish,” hosted by chef Yia Vang, won a James Beard Broadcast Media Award, edging out Bravo’s popular reality show “Top Chef” and public television mainstay Lidia Bastianich’s “Lidia Celebrates America: Changemakers.”
“Relish” was recognized in the lifestyle visual media category, which “honors excellence in food-centric talk shows and lifestyle programs that explore food or beverage alongside broader societal and cultural themes.”
