Let the James Beard awards semifinalist list be your Twin Cities dining guide

Organize your dining plans around the Twin Cities restaurants that were just named as semifinalists in the 2019 James Beard awards.

First-time semifinalists but longtime local culinary leaders Brenda Langton and Timothy Kane of Spoonriver (750 S. 2nd St., Mpls., spoonriver.com) are up for the nation's Outstanding Restaurateur.

Rikki Giambruno, chef/owner of charming newcomer Hyacinth (790 Grand Av., St. Paul, hyacinthstpaul.com), is in the running for Rising Star Chef of the Year, which honors kitchen talents no older than 30.

Diane Moua of Spoon and Stable (211 N. 1st St., Mpls., spoonandstable.com) is vying for Outstanding Pastry Chef; she was a finalist in this category in 2018.

Popol Vuh (1414 NE. Quincy St., Mpls., popolvuhmpls.com) is a contender for the Best New Restaurant.

Restaurant Alma (528 University Av. SE., Mpls., almampls.com) is marking its 20th anniversary in 2019, ideal timing for its spot in the Outstanding Restaurant category.

The Bachelor Farmer (50 2nd. Av. N., Mpls., 612-206-3920, thebachelorfarmer.com) is in the mix for Outstanding Wine Program.

And seven Twin Cities chefs are in the running for Best Chef: Midwest, which is one of the James Beard Foundation's 10 regional chef awards. They are Thomas Boemer of In Bloom (928 W. 7th St., St. Paul, inbloomstp.com), Steven Brown of Tilia (2726 W. 43rd St., Mpls., tiliampls.com), Ann Kim of Young Joni (165 13th Av. NE., Mpls., youngjoni.com), Jamie Malone of Grand Cafe (3804 Grand Av. S., Mpls., grandcafemn.com), Christina Nguyen of Hai Hai (2121 University Av. NE., Mpls., haihaimpls.com), Daniel del Prado of Martina (4312 Upton Av. S., Mpls., martinarestaurant.com) and Karyn Tomlinson of Corner Table (4537 Nicollet Av. S., Mpls., cornertablerestaurant.com).

Finalists will be announced March 27. Until then, let the reservations-making begin!