Chef Russo is currently Chef/Proprietor of Heartland Restaurant & Farm Direct Market (www.heartlandrestaurant.com). Chef Russo has over 35 years of experience in the food and beverage industry. From 2008 to 2011, Chef Russo was named a James Beard Foundation Award Semifinalist for Best Chef: Midwest and was named a finalist nominee in that category in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Recent awards include “Best New Restaurant” (Minneapolis Star Tribune, Minnesota Monthly, Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine, Midwest Living); “****” (Minneapolis Star Tribune); “97 out of 100 Points” (Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine); “Best Farm to Table Restaurant” (Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine); “Best Take Out Lunch” (Minnesota Monthly) “Best St. Paul Restaurant” (City Pages); “Top 5 Best Butcher Shops” “Best Restaurant”(City Pages); “Best of MN: Food” (Minneapolis Star Tribune) Saveur 100 (Saveur Magazine); Charlie Award for Lifetime Achievement .