How St. Louis chef Loryn Nalic honored Bosnian traditions on her way to a James Beard Award

Loryn Nalic, chef and co-owner of Balkan Treat Box in St. Louis brought home the Best Chef: Midwest honor at the 2026 James Beard Awards. This recognition marks the first time in nearly a decade that a St. Louis-area chef has won one of the U.S. culinary world’s highest honors. Nalic reflects on the achievement, what it’s taken to get to this point, the importance of preserving cultural traditions, and balancing creativity and innovation in cooking.