Nov. 02--The slate of 2015 nominees for the Jean Banchet Awards, the annual ceremony honoring Chicago-area chefs, beverage professionals and restaurants, has been announced.
Among the marquee categories are restaurant of the year, in which the four finalists are EL Ideas, Fat Rice, Intro and Parachute. Best new restaurant nominees are Boeufhaus, The Blanchard, Bom Bolla and Momotaro.
These awards are a local version of the James Beard Foundation Awards, often shining a brighter light on the up-and-coming restaurant professionals not yet known on the national stage. The nominees are assembled by a committee of 10 local food writers who meet throughout the year to discuss potential finalists. New categories this year include best ethnic restaurant (Andy's Thai Kitchen, Furious Spoon, Shokran and Birrieria Zaragoza) and the Banchet Culinary Achievement Award, which will go to Carrie Nahabedian of Naha and Brindille.
The awards are named for Jean Banchet, the French-born chef who inarguably raised Chicago's dining reputation. In 1973 he opened Le Francais in Wheeling, which for many years was considered among the country's finest restaurants. Banchet died in 2013 at age 72.
The Jean Banchet Awards will be held separately this year from the Grand Chefs Gala, the banquet event supporting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in its 19th year. The awards ceremony will be held Jan. 17 at Venue SIX10 on South Michigan Avenue. Winners will be chosen through a vote of restaurant industry professionals.
2015 Jean Banchet Nominees
Restaurant of the year
EL Ideas
Fat Rice
Intro
Parachute
Chef of the year
Abraham Conlon: Fat Rice
Phillip Foss: EL Ideas
Tony Mantuano: Spiaggia
Chris Pandel: The Bristol/Balena
Rising chef of the year
Ashlee Aubin: Salero
Beverly Kim Johnny Clark: Parachute
Thomas Rice Kurt Guzowski: Tete Charcuterie
Jason Vaughan: Pub Royale
Best chef de cuisine
Dennis Bernard: Dove's Luncheonette
David Fingerman : Graham Elliot Bistro
Ed Sura: Perennial Virant
Tony Quartaro: Formento's
Pastry chef of the year
Lisa Bonjour: mk
Meg Galus: Boka
Sandra Holl: Floriole
Chris Teixeira: West Town Bakery
Rising pastry chef of the year
Angela Diaz: Owen and Engine
Marjorie Easley: The Blanchard
Aya Fukai: Sixteen
Kelly Helgesen: Lula Cafe
Best neighborhood restaurant
mfk
Osteria Langhe
The Radler
Three Aces
Best ethnic restaurant
Andy's Thai Kitchen
Furious Spoon
Shokran
Birrieria Zaragoza
Best new restaurant
Boeufhaus
The Blanchard
Bom Bolla
Momotaro
Best sommelier
Nathan Adams: Boeufhaus
Jill Gubesch: Topolobampo/Frontera Grill
Elizabeth Mendez: Vera
Steve Morgan: Formento's
Best mixologist
Jacyara De Oliveira: Sportsman's Club
Dustin Drankiewicz: The Promontory/Dusek's/Punch House
Jason Lerner: Masa Azul
Liz Pearce: The Drifter
Best restaurant design
3Arts Club
Cherry Circle Room
Fulton Market Kitchen
Swift Sons
Best restaurant service
Boka
Billy Sunday
El Ideas
Formento's
Banchet Culinary Achievement Award
Carrie Nahabedian (Naha, Brindille)
kpang@tribpub.com
Twitter @pang
