The James Beard Awards — the Oscars of the food world — are this weekend in Chicago. The Twin Cities has two finalists in the running for Best Chef Midwest — both strong contenders.
First, Lenny Russo. Lenny's been in the business nearly four decades. He worked at the Loring, W.A. Frost, and the first restaurant in the new Guthrie building, before going out on his own to open St. Paul's best fine-dining restaurant, Heartland. Lenny was into local ingredients way before it was hip and has done much to promote using quality ingredients from small regional farmers, including opening a deli/market next to his restaurant for retail sales.
The other finalist is Paul Berglund, of the Bachelor Farmer — a relative newcomer to the Twin Cities dining scene, but one who's made a great impression in a short time. He, too, is into local ingredients — the Bachelor Farmer even has a rooftop garden. The restaurant recently opened a new café, which is more casual but just as delicious. The open-face sandwiches (roasted ham-and-cheese, duck confit and cabbage) sound like just sandwiches, but they have the same wonderful flavor and complexity of plated entrees next door.
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