Three KC chefs nominated for Beard award

Three local chefs have been named semifinalists in the 2013 James Beard Foundation Awards.

Colby Garrelts of Bluestem in Westport, Martin Heuser of Affare in the Crossroads Arts District, and Carl Thorne-Thomsen of Story in Prairie Village are all in the running for Best Chef: Midwest.

A restaurant in Manhattan, Kan., 4 Olives Wine Bar, is a semifinalist in the Outstanding Wine Program category.

Finalists for the James Beard Foundation Awards -- considered the Oscars of the restaurant industry -- will be revealed on March 18, and winners will be named in May, at a ceremony in New York.

This is the seventh nomination for Garrelts, who recently opened a second restaurant, Rye, in Leawood.

The Star's review of Story, Aug. 18, 2012

The Star's review of Affäre, Aug. 8, 2012

All nominations for Best Chef: Midwest

Justin Aprahamian, Sanford, Milwaukee

David Baruthio, Baru 66, Des Moines

Steven Brown, Tilia, Minneapolis

Clayton Chapman, The Grey Plume, Omaha

Gerard Craft, Niche, Clayton, Mo.

Doug Flicker, Piccolo, Minneapolis

John Gadau and Phillip Hurley, Sardine, Madison, Wisc.

Colby Garrelts, Bluestem, Kansas City

Michelle Gayer, Salty Tart, Minneapolis

Martin Heuser, Affäre, Kansas City

Tim McKee, La Belle Vie, Minneapolis

Kevin Nashan, Sidney Street Café, St. Louis

Jack Riebel, Butcher & the Boar, Minneapolis

Lenny Russo, Heartland Restaurant & Farm Direct Market, St. Paul, Minn.

Jon Seymour, V. Mertz, Omaha

David Swanson, Braise, Milwaukee

Carl Thorne-Thomsen, Story, Prairie Village

Sameh Wadi, Saffron Restaurant & Lounge, Minneapolis

Sean Wilson, Proof, Des Moines

James Winberg, Mike Brown, and Bob Gerken, Travail Kitchen and Amusements, Robbinsdale, Minn.