And the 2017 nominees are....
Congratulations to everyone nominated this year. Best of luck!
Restaurant of the Year, Presented by Illinois Restaurant Association
(Restaurant needs to have opened prior to November 1, 2014 to be eligible for consideration.)
Blackbird
EL Ideas
Schwa
Sepia
Chef of the Year, Presented by S.Pellegrino® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water & Acqua Panna Natural Spring Water
Andrew Brochu (Roister)
Sarah Grueneberg (Monteverde)
Gene Kato (Sumi Robata Bar)
John Manion (La Sirena Clandestina/El Che Bar)
Rising Chef of the Year, Presented by ITW Food Equipment Group (Hobart, Vulcan, Traulsen)
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, Presented by Nielsen-Massey Vanillas
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
5 Loaves Eatery
Go 4 Food
Hanbun
Immm Rice & Beyond
Best New Restaurant
(Restaurant needs to have opened within two years of November 1, 2016 to be eligible for consideration.)
The Loyalist
Monteverde
Oriole
Roister
Best Sommelier
Rachel Driver Speckan (City Winery)
Parag Lalit, (Sixteen)
Aaron McManus (Oriole)
Terry McNeese (de Quay)
Best Mixologist, Presented by Breakthru Beverage Illinois
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
The 2016 Jean Banchet Awards for Culinary Excellence Winners
Restaurant of the Year, Presented by Illinois Restaurant Association: Fat Rice
Chef of the Year, Presented by S.Pellegrino® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water & Acqua Panna Natural Spring Water: Chris Pandel: Bristol/Balena – B. Hospitality
Rising Chef of the Year, Presented by ITW Food Equipment Group (Hobart, Vulcan, Traulsen): Beverly Kim & Johnny Clark: Parachute
Best Chef-de-Cuisine: Tony Quartaro: Formento’s
Pastry Chef of the Year: Sandra Holl: Floriole
Rising Pastry Chef of the Year, Presented by Nielsen-Massey Vanillas: Kelly Helgesen: Lula Café
Best Neighborhood Restaurant: mfk.
Best Ethnic Restaurant: Birrieria Zaragoza
Best New Restaurant: The Blanchard
Best Sommelier, Presented by Tenzing Wine and Spirits: Elizabeth Mendez: Vera
Best Mixologist, Presented by Breakthru Beverage: Jacyara De Oliveira: Sportsman’s Club
Best Restaurant Design: Cherry Circle Room
Best Restaurant Service: Billy Sunday
Banchet Culinary Achievement: Carrie Nahabedian (NAHA, Brindille)
Nominations
The public is invited to propose nominations* for the Jean Banchet Awards at www.banchetawards.com from OCTOBER 10 - OCTOBER 23. The proposed nominations are tallied and the results are further narrowed by the Jean Banchet Panel. The final four nominees in each category will be announced to the public on NOVEMBER 1, 2016.
*Eligibility: Award winners from previous three years (2013-2015) may not be candidates again in the same category, though they may be eligible in other categories.
Winners
Winners for the Jean Banchet Awards will be chosen through industry vote, in collaboration with the Jean Banchet Panel. Between NOVEMBER 28 and DECEMBER 12, members of the culinary industry** will cast their vote for the winners electronically and the winners will be announced live at the Jean Banchet Awards for Culinary Excellence on Sunday, January 15, 2017 at Venue Six10.
**All registered voters must currently work in or be directly affiliated with a Chicagoland area restaurant in order to be eligible.
Jean Banchet Panel Description
The Jean Banchet Panel consists of Chicago's foremost food and beverage journalists, photographers, and elite gastronomes. The panel gathers throughout the year to discuss, compare, and contrast experiences at a variety of culinary establishments. They are required to dine and drink at as many different places as possible throughout the year -- from hot dogs to fine dining and everything in between. No members of the Jean Banchet Panel are affiliated with any of Chicagoland's restaurants or bars.
