On May 4, the James Beard Foundation Awards will come to Chicago (they’re the so-called Oscars of the food world, a phrase that will be burned in your brain by the time the media blitz for the ceremony is over), and more than a few local faces are up for consideration in the restaurant awards.
Most of these are repeat nominees, save for the design award, Best New Restaurant, and Rising Star Chef of the Year. There is, however, a notable absence in this year’s list: Perennial Outstanding Restaurant nominee Spiaggia has fallen out of contention.
Here are the hometown favorites up for awards:
Restaurant Design, 75 Seats and Under
Bureau of Architecture and Design, Brindille
Best New Restaurant
Parachute
Outstanding Bar Program
The Violet Hour
Outstanding Pastry Chef
Dana Cree, Blackbird
Outstanding Restaurateur
Donnie Madia, One Off Hospitality Group (Blackbird, Avec, etc.)
Outstanding Service
Topolobampo
Rising Star Chef of the Year
Tanya Baker, Boarding House
Best Chef: Great Lakes
Curtis Duffy, Grace
Paul Virant, Vie
Erling Wu-Bower, Nico Osteria
Andrew Zimmerman, Sepia