Two Sioux Falls chefs receive prestigious nomination

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — When it comes to French desserts, Chef Chris Hanmer is an artist who’s been satisfying sweet cravings at C.H. Patisserie for more than a decade.He considers the James Beard Awards “the Oscars of the food industry.”

“Seeing downtown grow along with us and being part of that for so long and then just having this come now in our business career and our lives is just so God is just- blessed by God, is how we feel,” said Chris Hanmer, nominee for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker.

Yesterday, he got an unexpected call from a friend.

“And I’m like, what? I’ve been here since, you know, early in the morning, congratulations for what? And he’s like on your James Beard nomination. I’m like, are you serious? I’m like, I kind of got, like, emotional,” said Hamner.

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Just down the street at BiBiSol, Marcela Salas also received a call from a fellow chef.

“He’s like, congratulations. And I’m like, oh, what do you mean? Well, thanks, but for what? He’s like, well, you’ve been nominated for emerging chef,” said Marcela Salas, also nominated for a James Beard Award.

For just six months, Chef Salas has been serving customers authentic Mexican recipes at this downtown restaurant.

Although the businesses have very different menus, the chefs have one thing in common: they both credit their success to something more than their talent.

“One thing that I really just want to say is that I wouldn’t be here without my community. Oftentimes, as entrepreneurs, we find ourselves so isolated. And, you know, I need to do this, I need to do that. But I’ve leaned on my community, my family, my friends, the people that have lifted me up and supported me,” said Salas.