Sioux Falls restauranteur Sanaa Abourezk is getting recognition she so richly deserves. Sanaa, owner of Sanaa’s Gourmet Mediterranean, has been named a semifinalist in the prestigious James Beard Foundation Awards.

She is one of 20 semifinalists in the Midwest. On the other side of the state, Joseph Raney of Skogen Kitchen in Custer also is a semifinalist, meaning both East River and West River have representation in an award ceremony that celebrates America’s food culture.

Not bad, South Dakota.