Ann Kim

Ann Kim is a James Beard Award-winning chef and restaurateur in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Ann Kim
EducationColumbia University
Culinary career

Early life

Kim immigrated from South Korea to the United States in 1977 at the age of four, settling in Apple Valley, Minnesota with her sister, parents and grandmother. She was in the theater program at Apple Valley High School, and she pursued an acting career at Columbia University in New York City. She returned to Minneapolis and worked as an actress for eight years before deciding to enter the restaurant business.[1][2]

Culinary career

Recalling the pizza she had enjoyed in New York, Kim began to study pizza making, training at Tony Gemignani's International School of Pizza in San Francisco.[2][3] In 2011, Kim and her partner (and future husband) Conrad Leifur opened Pizzeria Lola in Minneapolis.[3] When reviewing the restaurant for Food & Wine, Andrew Zimmern said: "Yes, it’s true, Minnesota has the best pizza in America."[4] Guy Fieri visited Pizzeria Lola in 2012 for the Food Network show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.[5] In 2012, Kim and Leifur opened a second restaurant in Edina, Minnesota, a smaller pizzeria called Hello Pizza, selling pies and slices from a counter.[6]

In 2016, Kim and Leifur opened a third restaurant named Young Joni in northeast Minneapolis, expanding from pizza to a broader menu featuring hearth cooking and Korean influences.[1][2] It was named one of the best new restaurants in America by Eater and GQ magazine.[7][8] The Star Tribune named it its 2017 Restaurant of the Year.[9]

In 2019, Kim won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Midwest.[10]

References
  1. Mihelich, Amy (May 4, 2018). "James Beard Award finalist remembers Apple Valley mentors". Sun - This Week. hometownsource.com.
  2. Jacobson, Dana (April 6, 2019). "How Ann Kim went from aspiring actress to one of the Twin Cities' top chefs". The Dish. CBS News.
  3. Hutton, Rachel (January 12, 2011). "Pizzeria Lola serves up a slice of class in south Minneapolis". City Pages.
  4. Zimmern, Andrew (March 31, 2015). "Andrew Zimmern's Favorite Pizza". Food & Wine.
  5. Platt, Adam (May 29, 2015). "The Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives Effect". Twin Cities Business.
  6. Nelson, Rick (September 6, 2012). "Say 'hello' to Hello Pizza in Edina". Star Tribune.
  7. Summers, Joy (July 26, 2017). "Ann Kim's Young Joni Named A Best New Restaurant in America". Eater - Twin Cities.
  8. Martin, Brett (April 20, 2017). "Best New Restaurants - 2017". GQ Magazine.
  9. Nelson, Rick (December 17, 2017). "Restaurant of the Year: Young Joni is a true original in northeast Minneapolis". Star Tribune.
  10. Nelson, Rick (May 7, 2019). "Minnesota's Ann Kim brings home the James Beard chef award". Star Tribune.
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