The People's Best New Chef: Midwest Contenders

At F&W, we name America’s 10 most brilliant up-and-coming chefs every year. Now we want to know who you think is the most talented new chef in America.

Regions:
California, Great Lakes, Gulf Coast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, New England, New York Area, Northwest & Pacific, Southeast, Southwest Midwest Chefs

• Paul Berglund
• Thomas Boemer
• Ryan Brazeal
• Tim Dahl
• Dan Fox
• Thomas Hauck
• Ben Poremba
• Patrick Ryan
• Carl Thorne-Thomsen
• Cassy Vires

Photo © Greg Jansen

Paul Berglund

Restaurant: The Bachelor Farmer (Read a review)

Location: Minneapolis

Why He's Amazing: Because he's redefining Nordic cooking in Minnesota with his sophisticated and modern treatment of its humble ingredients.

Culinary School: Self-taught

background: Oliveto (/sites/default/files/akland, CA), Rustica Bakery (Minneapolis), Heartland Restaurant (St. Paul)

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Photo © Megan Hoy

Thomas Boemer

Restaurant: Corner Table (Read a review)

Location: Minneapolis

Why He's Amazing: Because he combines European techniques, Low-Country influences and prime Midwestern ingredients in clever ways.

Culinary School: Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts (Mendota Heights, MN)

background: Hotel Sofitel, 20.21 (/sites/default/files/inneapolis); Mandalay Bay, Mix (Las Vegas)

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Photo © Paul Andrews, courtesy of KC Magazine

Ryan Brazeal

Restaurant: Novel (Read a review)

Location: Kansas City, MO

Why He's Amazing: Because he's brought a refined sensibility to seasonal Midwestern ingredients in dishes like chilled corn soup with seaweed, fermented crab paste, marinated clams and jalapeño.

Culinary School: Johnson County Community College (Overland Park, KS)

background: Má Pêche, Allen & Delancey, Country, Nobu 57 (/sites/default/files/ew York City)

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Tim Dahl

Restaurant: Nostrano (Read a review)

Location: Madison, WI

Why He's Amazing: Because although he trained as a pastry chef, Dahl's Italian-inflected savory dishes are incredibly spot-on.

Culinary School: Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts (Mendota Heights, MN)

background: Blackbird, Avec, NoMI (/sites/default/files/hicago)

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Photo © Nicole Peaslee

Dan Fox

Restaurant: Heritage Tavern (Read a review)

Location: Madison, WI

Why He's Amazing: Because not only is his Asian-accented cooking both hearty and refined, he also raises his own heritage pigs.

Culinary School: Kendall College (Chicago)

background: The Madison Club (/sites/default/files/adison); Spring, Everest (Chicago)

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Photo © Kevin J. Miyazaki

Thomas Hauck

Restaurant: C. 1880 (Read a review)

Location: Milwaukee

Why He's Amazing: Because of the unexpected flavors in his hyper-seasonal cooking, for instance, venison with coffee and pasilla crust, served with cabbage and Bosc pear slaw.

Culinary School: The Culinary Institute of America (Hyde Park, NY)

background: Le Globe (/sites/default/files/erpignan, France), l'Essentiel (Chambéry, France), Citronelle (Washington, DC), Mason Street Grill (Milwaukee)

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Photo © Greg Rannells

Ben Poremba

Restaurants: Elaia, Olio (Read a review)

Location: St. Louis

Why He's Amazing: Because he ingeniously serves upscale and rustic interpretations of Mediterranean ingredients in side-by-side restaurants. And the food is delicious.

Culinary School: Self-taught

background: The Maryland House (/sites/default/files/t. Louis)

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Photo © Lyndon Wade/The Wade Brothers

Patrick Ryan

Restaurant: Port Fonda (Read a review)

Location: Kansas City, MO

Why He's Amazing: His food truck was such a sensation, he had to open a restaurant to meet the demand for his deftly spiced regional Mexican cooking.

Culinary School: The Western Culinary Institute (Portland, OR)

background: Frontera Grill, Topolobampo (/sites/default/files/hicago); Room 39, The River Club (Kansas City, MO)

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Photo © Matt Kocourek

Carl Thorne-Thomsen

Restaurant: Story (Read a review)

Location: Prairie Village, KS

Why He's Amazing: Because he's turning out incredible European-inspired dishes in a shopping center in suburban Kansas.

Culinary School: Self-taught

background: 40 Sardines (/sites/default/files/verland Park, KS); Michael Smith Restaurant, Extra Virgin (Kansas City, MO)

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Photo © Jennifer Silverberg

Cassy Vires

Restaurant: Home Wine Kitchen, Table (Read a review)

Location: Maplewood, MO; St. Louis

Why She's Amazing: Because she channeled her love for throwing dinner parties for friends into a full-time career, serving delicious, inspired New American dishes.

Culinary School: The Art Institute of Houston

background: Ernesto's Wine Bar, Viking Cooking School (/sites/default/files/t. Louis)

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