Jenn Louis Named Food & Wine Best New Chef for 2012

It's official: After dropping a major hint yesterday, Food & Wine magazine has confirmed that chef Jenn Louis, of Lincoln and Sunshine Tavern, has been named to the highly prestigious F&W Best New Chef list for 2012. Louis (pictured here with partner David Welch) opened her N. Williams restaurant Lincoln in 2008, and followed-up with the more casual neighborhood spot Sunshine Tavern in April 2011.

According to the official press release, the Best New Chef Award honors "talented chefs with a unique culinary vision... who have been in charge of a kitchen for five years or fewer." Louis and her fellow Best New Chefs — including two other Pacific Northwest representatives, Cormac Mahoney of Seattle's Madison Park Conservatory and Blaine Wetzel of Lummi Island's Willows Inn — will be feted tonight during a party at New York City's Liberty Theatre, and will appear on the cover of the July issue of Food & Wine. Big congrats to Louis, Welch, and Team Lincoln! Way to represent.

Update: Here's the link to Louis' official profile on the Food & Wine website, which describes her style as "honest, delicious, sustainable cuisine."
· Food & Wine Announces Best New Chefs 2012 [Eater National]
· All Previous Jenn Louis Coverage [Eater PDX]