Austin earned three semifinalist slots for Best Chef Southwest: Kevin Fink for Emmer & Rye, Michael Fojtasek for Olamaie and Bryce Gilmore for Barley Swine. On a national level, they earned long-list places for Launderette's Laura Sawicki as Outstanding Pastry Chef, and for smokehouse-themed iza
In Minnesota, Kevin Fink held out hope that federal investigators would find a cause to explain why he couldn't stop his 2008 Sienna from accelerating on Interstate 35W as he drove home to Northfield after a Twins game with his two sons and his son's friend.