Local restaurants, chefs among semifinalists for James Beard Awards

Semifinalists for the 2022 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards were announced Wednesday, and some local names were among the nominees.

Semifinalists included two Minneapolis restaurants, four local chefs and one metro restaurateur.

Owamni and Union Hmong Kitchen, both located in Minneapolis, are up for Best New Restaurant.

Four chefs from Minnesota are included in the list of Best Chef: Midwest nominees. They are Jorge Guzmán, of Petite León in Minneapolis; Sean Sherman, of Owamni in Minneapolis; Yia Vang, of Union Hmong Kitchen in Minneapolis; and Erik Skaar, of Vann in Spring Park.

Kim Bartmann, of the Bartmann Group (Minneapolis), was also a semifinalist for outstanding restaurateur.

RELATED: Minnesota AG recovers back pay, overtime wages owed to Bartmann Group restaurant workers

The final nominees will be announced on March 16 with a special winners ceremony on June 13 in Chicago.