Brookings restaurant wins major industry award

A Brookings restaurant has won a James Beard Award that recognizes those “that serve quality food, have timeless appeal and reflect the character of their communities.”

Pheasant Restaurant & Lounge has received one of six America’s Classics Awards presented by the James Beard Foundation. The Pheasant represents the Midwest region, which includes South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Kansas and Missouri.

Michael Johnson marks the return of the pheasant sculpture to the restaurant in 2019.

Representatives from the Pheasant team will accept the medal in June in Chicago.

“As we stand on that stage, we will be overflowing with gratitude for 75 years of love and support from this amazing community, gratitude for the dedication of our team and gratitude to Ron and Georgiana Olson for having a vision in 1966 for this little gas station cafe out past the edge of town,” the restaurant said in a post on social media.

That’s when the Olsons bought the Pheasant, which got its start in 1949, making it the oldest full-service restaurant in Brookings. Two of their daughters ran it before entrusting it to a member of the third generation, Michael Johnson, who serves as chef and manager.

In a news release, the foundation highlighted some of the Pheasant’s menu items. “The menu is full of iconic midcentury dishes of the Upper Midwest, like hot roast beef on homemade white bread with mashed potatoes and gravy; Nordic waffles – vafler — made with cardamom and folded around smoked salmon or gjetost (a Norwegian cheese); classics, like chef salad, spatzle, and liver and onions; and riffs on comfort food like duck wings, bison steak au poivre and a lamb burger with local jalapeno jelly and peanut butter.”

Chislic and the signature pheasant salad also were noted.

“Johnson introduced pheasant salad to the menu in homage to the restaurant’s name and South Dakota history – WWII troops traveling through the state were treated to pheasant salad sandwiches en route to deployment.”

The James Beard Awards are among the most prestigious culinary honors in the U.S., celebrating “excellence across all types of dining experiences, from fine dining to casual gems in our communities, while supporting and encouraging a more sustainable industry.”

Also as part of this year’s awards, Sanaa Abourezk, the owner of 8th Street Gourmet in downtown Sioux Falls, has been recognized as one of 20 semifinalists in the category of best chef in the Midwest. The finalists will be announced April 3, and winner will be named at the June event in Chicago.

She was a finalist last year.

Sanaa Abourezk gets another shot at James Beard Award