The 2024 James Beard Foundation semifinalists have been announced, and the Twin Cities has eight chefs and restaurants up for awards.

The awards, widely considered to be the Oscars of the food world, consist of 22 categories — 10 national and 12 regional.

We have four semifinalists in the national categories:

Daniel Del Prado for Porzana in Minneapolis in Best Chef; Oro by Nixta for Best New Restaurant; Marc Heu of Marc Heu Patisserie Paris for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker; and Meteor in Minneapolis for Outstanding Bar.

The other four semifinalists are in the Best Chef Midwest category:

Ann Ahmed for Kahluna in Minneapolis; Christina Nguyen for Hai Hai in Minneapolis; Karyn Tomlinson for Myriel in St. Paul; and Lisa Carlson and Carrie Summer for Chef Shack in Bay City, Wis.

Best Chef Midwest category encompasses Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

The semifinalists, known as the long list, will be trimmed April 3 to a shortlist of nominees. Awards are held June 10 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

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