Nominees include Jon Yao of Kato and Daniel Castillo of Heritage Barbecue. Castillo hopes the nomination will shed more light on Orange County and barbecue.

Three Minnesotans are among the five nominees for best Midwestern chef in this year's James Beard Awards, and the state is in competition in several other categories as well.The James Beard Foundation announced its award nominees — culled from an earlier list of semifinalists — on Wednesday.

Cincinnati was the only city in Ohio represented in the finalist round. Mike Stankovich, the owner of both Longfellow Bar, in Over-the-Rhine, and Downtown's Mid-City Restaurant was named a finalist for the new award category of Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service.