How a St. Louis Food Truck Became a James Beard Award Winner — and Reunited a Family

St. Louis chef Loryn Nalic — chef and co-owner of Balkan Treat Box and Telva at The Ridge — joins Veneta Rizvic to celebrate her 2026 James Beard Award win in the Best Chef Midwest category. Loryn shares what the win means to her, the deeply personal story behind Balkan Treat Box and how the restaurant helped reunite her husband Edo's family after years of separation, and her recent research trip to Bosnia where she trained at a legendary bakery. She also weighs in on the flourishing St. Louis dining scene, the "James Beard effect" on her business, and what the future might hold for her restaurants.https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2026/06/15/st-louisan-best-chef-james-beard-foundation-awards.htmlhttps://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/feature/arch-city-reportMentioned in this episode:Cass Commercial BankCass Commercial Bank...member FDIC. https://www.cassbank.com/