1 day Ago By Ian Froeb St. Louis Post-Dispatch
ST. LOUIS — Loryn Nalic of Balkan Treat Box and Jane Sacro Chatham of Vicia are finalists for the 2025 James Beard Awards, widely viewed as the nation’s most prestigious culinary honors. Nalic, the chef and owner of Balkan Treat Box in Webster Groves, is a finalist for “Best Chef: Midwest.
” Chatham, the chef de cuisine of Vicia in the Central West End, is a finalist for “Emerging Chef” nationwide. Nalic and Chatham are both first-time James Beard Award finalists. Nalic has been a semifinalist in previous years.
This was also Chatham’s first time as a semifinalist. “It’s very overwhelming,” Chatham said Wednesday. Chatham, who was searing squash when contacted by the Post-Dispatch, said she was “very grateful.
” Chatham is nominated for “Emerging Chef” alongside chefs Kaitlin Guerin of Lagniappe Bakehouse in New Orleans; Phila Lorn of Mawn in Philadelphia; Nikhil Naiker of NIMKI in Providence, Rhode Island; and RJ Yoakum of Georgie in Dallas. “I’m just overwhelmed,” Nalic said Wednesday. Nalic was with her husband and co-owner, Edo Nalic, and family when she heard the news.
She said her team at Balkan Treat Box “keeps screaming” in celebration. Nominated with Nalic for “Best Chef: Midwest” are Shigeyuki Furukawa of Kado No Mise in Minneapolis; Diane Moua of Diane’s Place in Minneapolis; Karyn Tomlinson of Myriel in St. Paul, Minnesota; and David Utterback of Ota and Yoshitomo in Omaha.
St. Louis landed seven chefs, culinary professionals and restaurants among the semifinalists for the 2025 awards that the James Beard Foundation announced in January. Nick Bognar of Sado on the Hill was also a semifinalist for “Best Chef: Midwest.
” Gerard Craft, who won St. Louis’ first “Best Chef: Midwest” award in 2015 at his then-flagship restaurant Niche, was a semifinalist for “Outstanding Restaurateur” nationwide. Natasha Bahrami, owner of the Gin Room in Tower Grove East, and Alisha Blackwell-Calvert, sommelier of Madrina in Webster Groves, were both named semifinalists for “Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service,” another national category.
Nathaniel Reid Bakery in Kirkwood was a semifinalist for “Outstanding Bakery” in the country. St. Louis has not won a James Beard Award since 2017, when Kevin Nashan of Sidney Street Cafe was honored as “Best Chef: Midwest.
” Also in 2017, Gioia’s Deli on the Hill received the James Beard Foundation’s “America’s Classic” award. The 2025 James Beard Awards will be announced June 16 in Chicago..
