Awards season is upon us. But Hollywood isn’t the only city dishing out trophies. Last night, Chicago’s culinary elite gathered for the Jean Banchet Awards for Culinary Excellence hosted by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The competition was stiff, especially for new restaurants and bars including Roister, Oriole, El Che Bar and Honey’s.
Just like after the Golden Globes, when you got the itch to finally see “Moonlight” and rewatch Meryl Streep’s speech a dozen times over, the Jean Banchet Awards might just inspire you to finally check these restaurants off your never-ending list. Below, the winners for each category and your guide on where to eat and drink in 2017.
Restaurant of the year: Blackbird
Nominees: Blackbird, EL Ideas, Schwa, Sepia
Chef of the year: Andrew Brochu (Roister)
Nominees: Andrew Brochu (Roister), Sarah Grueneberg (Monteverde), Gene Kato (Sumi Robata Bar), John Manion (La Sirena Clandestina, El Che Bar)
Best new restaurant: Oriole
Nominees: The Loyalist, Monteverde, Oriole, Roister
Rising chef of the year: Bill Montagne and Jennifer Kim (Snaggletooth)
Nominees: Ashlee Aubin (Salero), Cameron Grant (Osteria Langhe, Animale), Bill Montagne and Jennifer Kim (Snaggletooth), Charles Welch (Honey’s)
Best chef-de-cuisine: Wilson Bauer (Schwa)
Nominees: Wilson Bauer (Schwa), Nick Dostal (Sixteen), Ryan Pfeiffer (Blackbird), Sarah Rinkavage (Lula Cafe)
Pastry chef of the year: Meg Galus (Swift & Sons, Momotaro, Boka)
Nominees: Meg Galus (Swift & Sons, Momotaro, Boka), Genie Kwon (Oriole), Mindy Segal (Mindy’s Hot Chocolate), Cindy Schuman (Sepia)
Rising pastry chef of the year: Alison Cates (Honey’s)
Nominees: Dave Brandenburgh (Band of Bohemia), Alison Cates (Honey’s), Aya Fukai (Maple & Ash), Marianna Reynolds (El Che Bar)
Best neighborhood restaurant: Sumi Robata Bar
Nominees: Arbor, Owen & Engine, Snaggletooth, Sumi Robata Bar
Best ethnic restaurant: 5 Loaves Eatery
Nominees: 5 Loaves Eatery, Go 4 Food, Hanbun, Immm Rice & Beyond
Best sommelier: Rachel Driver Speckan (City Winery)
Nominees: Rachel Driver Speckan (City Winery), Parag Lalit (Sixteen), Aaron McManus (Oriole), Terry McNeese (de Quay)
Best mixologist: Julia Momose (GreenRiver)
Nominees: Griffin Elliott (Sepia), Nandini Khaund (Cindy’s), Julia Momose (GreenRiver), Benjamin Schiller (The Berkshire Room, The Sixth, Steadfast)
Best restaurant service: Boka
Nominees: Boka, Honey’s, Maple & Ash, Oriole
Best restaurant design: Dixie
Nominees: Dixie, El Che Bar, GT Prime, Smyth
Best alternatvie dining: Nomad
Nominees: Claudia, Happy Lobster, Nomad, Tamale Spaceship
@morgancolsen | mcolsen@redeyechicago.com