The Bachelor Farmer's Paul Berglund Named 'Best Chef: Midwest'

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The third time was the charm for The Bachelor Farmer's Executive Chef, Paul Berglund.

Berglund was named winner of the James Beard Foundation's Award for Best Chef: Midwest. Berglund has been nominated three times since he opened Andrew and Eric Dayton's acclaimed restaurant in Minneapolis' North Loop neighborhood.

The Bachelor Farmer opened in 2011, where the kitchen watched a live stream of the award ceremony from Chicago's Lyric Opera House.

Berglund prevailed over St. Paul's Lenny Russo, a six-time nominee, and Milwaukee chef Justin Carlisle, as well as two chefs from St. Louis, Missouri.

The Bachelor Farmer originally opened as a restaurant celebrating a "new Nordic" cuisine with specialties including smoked salmon and Swedish meatballs, but over the years it has morphed into a restaurant celebrating the flavors of the Upper Midwest.

WCCO food reporter and morning anchor Jason DeRusha called The Bachelor Farmer his best meal of 2015.

On stage in Chicago, Berglund said "To my team in the kitchen, I love you guys so very much."

He thanked the restaurant's farmers saying, "Farm by farm, they're showing that positive change can really happen."

Minneapolis has had Best Chef: Midwest winners in the past, including Tim McKee in 2009 from La Belle Vie, Alex Roberts from Restaurant Alma in 2010, and Issac Becker of 112 Eatery in 2011.