Today, the James Beard Foundation announced the final nominees for its 2015 awards from the James Beard House in New York. And Milwaukee has at least one reason to be proud.
Chef and Owner Justin Carlisle of Ardent has made it to the next round for Best Chef Midwest.
Ardent, which opened in October 2013, has made an indelible mark on Milwaukee with its artfully prepared dishes, which simultaneously break new ground while paying homage to the simplicity and quality of Wisconsin ingredients.
The other finalists in the category include Paul Berglund of Bachelor Farmer in Minneapolis, Gerard Craft of Niche in St. Louis, Michelle Gayer of Salty Tart Bakery in Minneapolis and Lenny Russo of Heartland in St. Paul.
Carlisle’s nomination follows Ardent’s nomination in last year’s James Beard semi-finals for best new restaurant in the United States.
Final James Beard Award winners will be announced at the annual gala on Monday, May 4 in Chicago. The Beard Book, Broadcast and Journalism Awards will be presented on April 24.
See the complete list of nominees here.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
