Christina Nguyen win Best Midwest Chef at James Beard Awards

Christina Nguyen of Hai Hai and Hola Arepa took home the James Beard Award for Best Chef Midwest.

Why it matters: The Twin Cities chef had previously been nominated for the award four times, but had never taken home the prize until now.

• She beat out four others, including Ann Ahmed of Khâluna and Gai Noi .

What she's saying: "When we started our restaurants, the most a Southeast Asian restaurant could ever hope for was best cheap eats," Nguyen said in her awards speech. "I feel like we've come a long way. This is an honor."

Context: Nguyen, who is self-taught, started her restaurant career in 2011 when she and her husband Birk Grudem opened the Hola Arepa food truck.

• The two opened the brick-and-mortar location in 2014 and added Southeast Asian restaurant Hai Hai to their portfolio in 2018.

Zoom out: Elsewhere at the awards, upscale Northeast Minneapolis Mexican restaurant Oro by Nixta lost out on the Best New Restaurant award to Dakar NOLA of New Orleans.

This is a developing story. Check back for more updates.

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