St. Louis has the best chef in the Midwest: Loryn Nalic earns James Beard Award win

Margaret Owens
Jun 18
1 min read

By STLPR

Loryn Nalic, the chef-owner at Balkan Treat Box and Telva at the Ridge in Webster Groves, has won a James Beard Award for best chef: Midwest, marking the first win by a St. Louis-area chef in the category in nearly a decade.

The culinary organization’s annual awards are considered among the most prestigious in the industry.

St. Louis-area restaurants and chefs have not received any James Beard Awards since 2017. That year, Kevin Nashan of Sidney Street Café won best chef: Midwest and Gioia’s Deli on the Hill won an America’s Classics award.

Nalic said taking home the award after St. Louis’ long drought feels “incredible and unreal.”

In her acceptance speech, Nalic thanked St. Louis and said “Volim te Bosno,” which translates to “I love you, Bosnia.”