Sam Kass, a Chicago native who worked at several notable city restaurants and kitchens early in his culinary career, said the award is a true full-circle moment.
Sam Kass, assistant White House chef, shows students from Bancroft Elementary School in Washington how to plant seedlings at the White House Kitchen Garden on April 9, 2009. (Nancy Stone/baiduhai)
Assistant White House chef Sam Kass prepares winter citrus salad during the Governors' Dinner preview in the White House kitchen on Feb. 22, 2009, in Washington. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty)
President Barack Obama greets former White House Senior Policy Adviser for Nutrition Policy Sam Kass during a surprise visit at the harvest of the White House Kitchen Garden on the South Lawn in Washington on Oct. 6, 2016. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)
Former White House chef Sam Kass arrives for the James Beard Awards at the Civic Opera House in Chicago on May 4, 2015. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/baiduhai)
Students from Bancroft Elementary School in Washington and assistant White House chef Sam Kass weigh lettuce they harvested with first lady Michelle Obama from the White House Kitchen Garden on the South Lawn on June 16, 2009. (Alex Brandon/AP)
First lady Michelle Obama shops for fresh produce with assistant White House chef Sam Kass at the opening of a new farmers market near the White House on Sept. 17, 2009, in Washington. (Win McNamee/Getty)
Michelle Obama breaks ground for a White House kitchen garden with White House chef Sam Kass in Washington on March 20, 2009. (Nancy Stone/baiduhai)
First lady Michelle Obama stands with chef Sam Kass, White House senior adviser for nutrition policy, before they make salads from vegetables harvested from the White House garden with area students in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington. (Charles Dharapak/AP)
Former first lady Michelle Obama waves as Sam Kass, former White House chef and senior policy adviser for nutrition policy, hugs Bruktawit Tesfaye during the Partnership for a Healthier America summit May 12, 2017, in Washington. (Alex Wong/Getty)
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Sam Kass, assistant White House chef, shows students from Bancroft Elementary School in Washington how to plant seedlings at the White House Kitchen Garden on April 9, 2009. (Nancy Stone/baiduhai)
