After a two-week open nomination process, the finalists for Chicago’s prestigious Jean Banchet Awards were announced today.
Spanning 14 categories with four finalists each, the regional food awards recognize local talent. Finalists were chosen by the Jean Banchet Panel, made up of Chicago food experts, from a list of nominations made by the public.
From Nov. 28 to Dec. 12, the industry insiders making up the awards panel will vote to determine the winners. The 2017 awards will be held Jan. 15, and the event will benefit the Greater Illinois Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Below is the complete list of finalists.
Restaurant of the year
Blackbird
EL Ideas
Schwa
Sepia
Chef of the year
Andrew Brochu (Roister)
Sarah Grueneberg (Monteverde)
Gene Kato (Sumi Robata Bar)
John Manion (La Sirena Clandestina/El Che Bar)
Rising chef of the year
Ashlee Aubin (Salero)
Cameron Grant (Osteria Langhe/Animale)
Bill Montagne & Jennifer Kim (Snaggletooth)
Charles Welch (Honey’s)
Best chef-de-cuisine
Wilson Bauer (Schwa)
Nick Dostal (Sixteen)
Ryan Pfeiffer (Blackbird)
Sarah Rinkavage (Lula Café)
Pastry chef of the year
Meg Galus (Swift & Sons/Momotaro/Boka)
Genie Kwon (Oriole)
Mindy Segal (Mindy’s HotChocolate)
Cindy Schuman (Sepia)
Rising pastry chef of the year
Dave Brandenburgh (Band of Bohemia)
Alison Cates (Honey’s)
Aya Fukai (Maple & Ash)
Marianna Reynolds (El Che Bar)
Best neighborhood restaurant
Arbor
Owen & Engine
Snaggletooth
Sumi Robata Bar
Best ethnic restaurant
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5 Loaves Eatery
Go 4 Food
Hanbun
Immm Rice & Beyond
Best new restaurant
The Loyalist
Monteverde
Oriole
Roister
Best sommelier
Rachel Driver Speckan (City Winery)
Parag Lalit (Sixteen)
Aaron McManus (Oriole)
Terry McNeese (de Quay)
Best mixologist
Griffin Elliott (Sepia)
Nandini Khaund (Cindy’s)
Julia Momose (GreenRiver)
Benjamin Schiller (The Berkshire Room/The Sixth/Steadfast)
Best restaurant design
Dixie
El Che Bar
GT Prime
Smyth
Best restaurant service
Boka
Honey’s
Maple & Ash
Oriole
Best alternative dining
Claudia
Happy Lobster
Nomad
Tamale Spaceship
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Twitter @joeybear85
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