Each year, editors from Food & Wine magazine taste their way across the country in search of the women and men cooking the most delicious, creative food. (Tough job, we know.)

The results are in, and this year’s picks—nominated by restaurant critics, food writers and other experts, then selected by editors—come from restaurants in nine cities. They’re chosen for their creativity, talent and relative rookie status: none have been in charge of a kitchen for more than five years.

Listed in alphabetical order, here are 11 of the best new chefs cooking today, as named by Food & Wine, which, like TIME, is owned by Time Inc.

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Write to Mandy Oaklander at mandy.oaklander@time.com.

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