(WXYZ) — There is a chef in midtown that’s helping put Detroit on the “foodie map!”
The pastry chef at Selden Standard was nominated for a prestigious James Beard Awardearlier this year. Now, she’s being featured in Food & Wine magazine as one of the country’s best new chefs, hitting newsstands next month!
Lena Sareini is the only chef from Michigan to make this year’s list and she is one of two pastry chefs being honored.
“I just was in shock," Sareini said. "Like, what do you even mean?"
7 Action News reporter Syma Chowdhry met Sareini when she was nominated for a James Beard award for Rising Star Chef of the Year in late February. But because of the shutdown, the restaurant has been closed. They are not doing takeout orders either.
Sareini has another reason to celebrate with her colleagues, but she can’t.
The Food & Wine honor was supposed to come with some perks, like a trip to New York City.
“Have a photo shoot together and they wine and dine us," she said. "They take us all over and then we also get invited to this Food & Wine festival in Aspen in July, which got canceled this year, too.”
During the shutdown, Sareini started making videos on YouTube hoping to inspire your inner chef.
She tells 7 Action News Selden Standard may soon open for carry-out.
“I’m itching to get back into the kitchen,” she said.
This is the 32nd annual list by Food & Wine magazine, and will be featured in the July issue of FOOD & WINE, on newsstands June 19. To view full list of best new chefs, click here.
