Food & Wine magazine heralds Heyday chef Jim Christiansen

It's official: Jim Christiansen of Heyday (2700 Lyndale Av. S., Mpls., 612-200-9369, www.heydayeats.com) is one of Food & Wine magazine's Best New Chefs.

Christiansen learned the news about a month ago — via a call from the magazine's editor-in-chief, Dana Cowin — and keeping the news under wraps in advance of Tuesday's announcement was not easy.

"That was not good," he said with a laugh. "I just wanted to tell everybody, especially all of the people that I work with. It's another chapter for Heyday, about doing what we do, and about progessing, and going forward, and building a great team."

He was in New York City on Tuesday, posing for photographers and meeting-and-greeting at a gala announcement event.

"I'm just so grateful to be a part of this group," he said. "They're all super-talented."

The news coincide's with the restaurant's 1-year anniversary, and to celebrate, Christiansen is planning a greatest-hits tasting menu to run April 23 through April 25. If he can acquire the necessary city permits, Heyday would like to host a block party on April 26. "We'll get some music, and some grills, and some guest chefs," he said.

Christiansen is the sixth Minneapolis chef to join the magazine's Best New Chefs fraternity. Earlier BNCs include Tim Anderson (formerly of Goodfellow's) in 1991, Tim McKee (of La Belle Vie, then at the former D'Amico Cucina) in 1997, Seth Bixby Daugherty (formerly of Cosmos) in 2005, Stewart Woodman (of Workshop at Union, then at the former Heidi's) in 2006 and Jamie Malone (formerly of Sea Change) in 2013. A seventh, Erik Anderson (formerly of Sea Change) was a 2012 honoree for his work at Catbird Seat in Nashville. Malone and Anderson are working to open Brut in Minneapolis.

"We're a great food city," said Christiansen.

Along with Christiansen, the 2015 group includes Bryce Shuman of Betony in New York City, Michael Fojtasek and Grae Nonas of Olamaie in Austin, Zoi Antonitsas of Westward in Seattle, Jake Bickelhaupt of 42 Grams in Chicago, Jonathan Brooks of Milktooth in Indianapolis, Katie Button of Cúrate in Asheville, N.C., Tim Maslow of Ribelle in Brookline, Mass., Ori Menashe of Bestia in Los Angeles and Carlos Salgado of Taco Maria in Costa Mesa, Calif.

Being in the Food & Wine spotlight isn't Christiansen's first taste of national recognition. In Februrary, he was named a semifinalist for Best Chef: Midwest by the James Beard Foundation.

Food & Wine's 2015 Best New Chefs — who must be in charge of a kitchen for five years or fewer — will be featured in the magazine's July issue and will participate in the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Colo., from June 19 through 21.