ST. LOUIS, Mo. Often called the Oscars of the food world, these prestigious awards recognize the very best restaurants and chefs across the U.S.There’s one woman who’s been nominated for best chef in the Midwest for three years running. In 2014, she opened Lona’s Lil Eats in St. Louis. “Everybody was very proud of the food that they bring to table,” said Luo Powers. Lona first started selling her food in St. Louis at a farmer’s market on Saturdays.