Four Wisconsin restaurants serving regional food are amonge this year’s James Beard Award semi-finalists. The award is considered the Oscar of the culinary world.
Justin Carlisle says he was surprised and humbled to learn his Milwaukee restaurant, Ardent, was nominated for a James Beard Award. The 23-seat fine dining establishment has only been open since November, serving his family farm’s beef and other regional foods. Now, Ardent is up against 29 restaurants from around the country for Best New Restaurant.
Carlisle says growing up in a state with top-notch farms, he’s glad Wisconsin chefs are being recognized more for the work they put into creating meals.
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“For once, there are a lot of us that have stayed in the Wisconsin area because this is where we came from and we believe very much in this state and this area,” Carlisle said. “Hopefully now, it draws national attention to a state that’s well-deserving: that there are good restaurants here and there can be good restaurants here.”
Three other Wisconsin chefs are semifinalists in the Best Chef: Midwest category.
Justin Aprahamian is the executive chef at Sanford in Milwaukee. Its menu changes with the seasons and is inspired by ethnic cuisines. The restaurant has been nominated for the last few years and Aprahamian says he never takes it for granted.
“We’ve had diners coming in that will use that list when they travel. So it definitely helps business to have your name show up on that list,” Aprahamian said.
Other semifinalists include Dave Swanson, the owner and chef at Braise in Milwaukee and executive chef Jim Webster of the seasonal Bayfield restaurant, Wild Rice
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