Chef Lucia Watson is the proprietor of Lucia’s Restaurant, Wine Bar, and Lucia’s To Go, one of the twin cities’ favorite neighborhood establishments. Lucia’s continuing popularity over the last two decades is a tribute to her sensibility in menu selection and her warm, congenial hospitality. After earning a BA in French from the University of Minnesota , she pursued her cooking in numerous restaurants with diverse instruction, including her first level Master Sommelier certificate. Chef Watson has written two books: Savoring the Seasons of the Northern Heartland with co author Beth Dooley, and Cooking Freshwater Fish. Lucia has been honored with many awards over the last few years, including a James Beard Nomination for best chef in the Midwest in 2004, 2005, and 2006. Lucia served a four year term on the Organic Advisory Task Force to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. She is also a former board member of the Chef’s Collaborative, and has served as board chair for the Youth Farm and Market Project as well as the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. In 2013 Lucia was honored with a Charlie Lifetime Achievement award. ill.