The North Star State has its fair share of celebrities and celebrity hangouts, but when it comes to restaurants, there just aren’t really many places anymore that could be considered a celebrity-owned restaurant in Minnesota – unless we’re talking about celebrity chefs. The most famous celebrity chef living in Minnesota is, arguably, Andrew Zimmern, and he does not currently have a dining establishment in the state. Chef, writer, Food Network personality, and James Beard Award-winning cookbook author Amy Thielen also does not own a restaurant in Minnesota.

Two James Beard Award-winning chefs, Gavin Kaysen of Spoon & Stable, Demi, and other ventures, and Sean Sherman of Owamni, enjoy considerable renown at both the local and national levels. Sherman, in fact, was named one of Time Magazine’s Most Influential People of 2023. Another James Beard Award winner, Ann Kim of Young Joni and others, also enjoys quite a bit of regional and national acclaim. However, Kaysen, Sherman, and Kim aren’t really “celebrities” in a more general sense (yet!). Food Network host and cookbook author Molly Yeh opened Bernie’s in East Grand Forks in 2022, which is pretty close to a celebrity-owned restaurant but also not quite there yet.

In Minnesota, the closest place we have to a restaurant owned by a celebrity is The Handsome Hog, which was opened by chef and television personality Justin Sutherland.

Chef Justin Sutherland opened St. Paul's Handsome Hog in 2016 to much acclaim.
Chef Justin Sutherland/Facebook
His star grew when he competed on Bravo's Top Chef and Food Network's Iron Chef America (which he won).
Has has also made many other national media appearances on programs such as the Rachael Ray and Drew Barrymore shows. In 2021, he became a host on TruTV's competition show, Fast Foodies.
Chef Justin Sutherland/Facebook
And in 2022, Sutherland's cookbook, Northern Soul: Southern-Inspired Home Cooking from a Northern Kitchen was published.
Fortunately, you can still go back and see where it all began with a visit to Handsome Hog in St. Paul.
Handsome Hog/Facebook
As its sign implies, Handsome Hog specializes in pig-forward Southern cuisine - and bourbon.
TravelingSoccerLoon/TripAdvisor

Related Stories

You'll Barely Be Able To Take A Bite Of The Massive Burgers At Stony Ridge Cafe In Minnesota

You'll Barely Be Able To Take A Bite Of The Massive Burgers At Stony Ridge Cafe In Minnesota

 The Barbecue At This Minnesota Restaurant Is So Good That It Sells Out Every Week

The Barbecue At This Minnesota Restaurant Is So Good That It Sells Out Every Week

 This Iconic Minnesota Hot Dog Joint Is Part Of St. Paul History And Still Slinging Coney Islands To Hungry Customers

This Iconic Minnesota Hot Dog Joint Is Part Of St. Paul History And Still Slinging Coney Islands To Hungry Customers
You'll find all sorts of delicious favorites and Southern-inspired comfort foods, from pork belly...
Handsome Hog/Facebook
...to pimiento cheese...
Handsome Hog/Facebook
...to barbecue.
Facebook/Handsome Hog
And you can wash your meal down with a craft cocktail from the Hog's top-notch, bourbon-forward bar program.
Facebook/Handsome Hog

Maybe you’ll even spot a celebrity when you visit. Check out Handsome Hog’s website for its menus, hours, and reservations, or visit the restaurant’s Facebook page for updates and specials.

Have you visited Handsome Hog? Can you think of another celebrity-owned restaurant in Minnesota that we should know about? Let us know in the comments or on our nomination page.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Related Articles

Explore Minnesota

Featured Addresses
Handsome Hog, 173 Western Ave N, St Paul, MN 55102, USA