Minneapolis' Bûcheron wins James Beard Award for best new restaurant

A south Minneapolis restaurant serving French-American food has claimed the top national honor for new restaurants. Bûcheron was given the James Beard Award for best new restaurant, topping nine other establishments in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Dallas, among other cities.

The James Beard Foundation announced its 2025 award winners Monday night at a ceremony co-hosted by Minnesota chef Andrew Zimmern at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

The team behind Bûcheron in Minneapolis: Chef de Cuisine Cory Western, Hospitality Director & Co-Owner Jeanie Janas Ritter, Chef & Co-Owner Adam Ritter, and General Manager Tyler McLeod.

courtesy Libby Anderson

The James Beard Awards are widely regarded as among the highest honors in the American restaurant world. They recognize excellence in chefs, restaurants, food media and other culinary professionals nationwide.

Bûcheron received critical acclaim locally, topping best restaurant lists last year. Co-owners Jeanie Janas Ritter and chef Adam Ritter created a neighborhood restaurant that celebrates Parisian bistro cuisine.

In St. Paul, Myriel chef Karyn Tomlinson won Best Chef Midwest, a category that also included chefs in Minneapolis. Tomlinson opened her restaurant in 2021 and garnered national attention when she was named one of Food & Wine’s best new chefs in 2024. Myriel’s menu highlights seasonal Minnesota producers and changes often.

Additionally, TPT won a James Beard Media Award Saturday for “Relish,” featuring chef Yia Vang.

The James Beard Awards were created in 1990 by the James Beard Foundation, a New York nonprofit named for the influential food writer and cookbook author.