Gavin Kaysen Wins Second James Beard Award

Monday May 7th, ten years after his first win, Gavin Kaysen of Spoon and Stable and Bellecour accepted prestigious James Beard Award for Best Chef Midwest. Kaysen was the predicted winner, but up against two other Minnesotans, Steven Brown of Tilia and St. Genevieve and Ann Kim of Young Joni, Pizzeria Lola and Hello Pizza.

Kaysen is the world-famous chef who left the three Michilen-stared Cafe Boulud to return to his home of Minnesota to open his own restaurant. With investors that included Daniel Boulud, his mentor and Thomas Keller, the restaurnt broke reservation records on Open Table when it opened the books back in 2014. In 2016 he opened his second, in the suburb of Wayzata and was again met with immediate success.

As Kaysen accepted the award, he opened with a quip, “Don’t stand up, you’re all taller than me.”

Hillary Dixler/Eater

Thanks his team, Diane Yang, who was nominated for Best Pastry Chef and his mentor, Daniel Bolud. He also included his partner and wife Linda Kaysen, expressing his appreciation for her and his family. He closed his acceptance speech with, “Thank you. Let’s all just be good to each other.”

This is Kaysen’s second James Beard Award, he was the recipient of the Rising Star Chef Award in 2008.

• All Gavin Kaysen Coverage [ETC]
• James Beard Awards: Who Should Win [E]