The 2022 Jean Banchet Awards for Culinary Excellence Winners
Restaurant of the Year Presented by the Illinois Restaurant Association: Oriole
Chef of the Year: Erick Williams (Virtue Restaurant & Bar)
Rising Chef of the Year Presented by S.Pellegrino® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water: Ethan Lim (Hermosa)
Pastry Program of the Year Presented by Nielsen-Massey Vanillas: Kasama
Best Neighborhood Restaurant: The Duck Inn
Best Heritage Restaurant: Sochi Saigonese Kitchen
Best New Restaurant: Dear Margaret
Best Sommelier: Alex Ring (Sepia/Proxi)
Best Bartender Presented by Breakthru Beverage Illinois: Stevan Miller (Claudia)
Best Hospitality: William Talbott of El Ideas
Best Bar: The Alderman
Best Alternative Dining: Sinhá
The 2020 Jean Banchet Awards for Culinary Excellence Winners
Restaurant of the Year Presented by the Illinois Restaurant Association Smyth
Chef of the Year Presented by S.Pellegrino® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water & Acqua Panna Natural Spring Water: Anna and David Posey (Elske)
Rising Chef of the Year: Jess Galli (Middle Brow Bungalow)
Best Chef-de-Cuisine Presented by Sparrow Coffee Roastery: Mariya Russell (Kumiko | Kikkō)
Pastry Chef of the Year: Craig Harzewski (Brindille)
Rising Pastry Chef of the Year Presented by Nielsen-Massey Vanillas: Tatum Sinclair (S.K.Y.)
Best Neighborhood Restaurant: Passerotto
Best Heritage Restaurant: Cafe Istanbul
Best New Restaurant: Kyōten
Best Sommelier: Aaron McManus (Oriole)
Best Bartender Presented by Breakthru Beverage Illinois: Kevin Beary (The Bamboo Room at Three Dots and a Dash)
Best Restaurant Design: Tzuco
Best Restaurant Service: S.K.Y.
Best Bar: Kumiko
Best Counter Service: Publican Quality Meats
Banchet Culinary Achievement Award: Ina Pinkney (Ina's)
The 2019 Jean Banchet Awards for Culinary Excellence Winners
Restaurant of the Year Presented by the Illinois Restaurant Association: George Trois
Chef of the Year Presented by S.Pellegrino® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water & Acqua Panna Natural Spring Water: Jason Hammel (Lula Cafe, Marisol)
Rising Chef of the Year: Alisha Elenz (mfk. restaurant)
Best Chef-de-Cuisine Presented by Sparrow Coffee Roastery: Ryan Pfeiffer (Blackbird)
Pastry Chef of the Year Presented by Cacao Barry: Nicole Guini (Blackbird, avec)
Rising Pastry Chef of the Year Presented by Nielsen-Massey Vanillas: Elaine Townsend (Fat Rice)
Best Neighborhood Restaurant: Pizzeria Bebu
Best Heritage Restaurant: A Place BY DAMAO
Best New Restaurant: S.K.Y.
Best Sommelier Presented by Champagne Henriot: Jill Gubesch (Frontera Grill, Topolobampo, Leña Brava)
Best Mixologist Presented by Breakthru Beverage Illinois: Stephanie Andrews (Billy Sunday)
Best Restaurant Design: Pacific Standard Time
Best Service: Temporis
Best Bar: Moody Tongue
NEW* Best Counter Service Calumet Fisheries
Banchet Culinary Achievement Award: Michael Foley (Printer's Row)
The 2018 Jean Banchet Awards for Culinary Excellence Winners
Restaurant of the Year, Presented by the Illinois Restaurant Association: Monteverde
Chef of the Year, Presented by S.Pellegrino® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water & Acqua Panna Natural Spring Water: Andrew Zimmerman (Sepia, Proxi)
Rising Chef of the Year: Nick Dostal (Sixteen)
Best Chef-de-Cuisine, Presented by Sparrow Coffee Roastery: Bill Montagne (Nico Osteria)
Pastry Chef of the Year: Anna Posey (Elske)
Rising Pastry Chef of the Year, Presented by Nielsen-Massey Vanillas: Kyleen Atonson (Honey’s)
Best Neighborhood Restaurant: Daisies
Best Ethnic Restaurant: Ras Dashen Ethiopian Restaurant
Best New Restaurant: Smyth
Best Sommelier, Presented by Champagne Henriot: Parag Lalit (Sixteen)
Best Mixologist, Presented by Breakthru Beverage Illinois: Amit Gilad (GreenRiver)
Best Restaurant Design: Proxi
Best Service: Oriole
NEW * Best Bar: Income Tax
Banchet Culinary Achievement Award: Katsu and Haruko Imamura (Katsu)
The 2017 Jean Banchet Awards for Culinary Excellence Winners
Restaurant of the Year, Presented by Illinois Restaurant Association: Blackbird
Chef of the Year, Presented by S.Pellegrino® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water & Acqua Panna Natural Spring Water: Andrew Brochu (Roister)
Rising Chef of the Year, Presented by ITW Food Equipment Group (Hobart, Vulcan, Traulsen): Bill Montagne & Jennifer Kim (Snaggletooth)
Best Chef-de-Cuisine, Presented by Sparrow Coffee Roastery: Wilson Bauer (Schwa)
Pastry Chef of the Year: Meg Galus (Swift & Sons/Momotaro/BOKA)
Rising Pastry Chef of the Year, Presented by Nielsen-Massey Vanillas: Alison Cates (Honey’s)
Best Neighborhood Restaurant: Sumi Robata Bar
Best Ethnic Restaurant: 5 Loaves Eatery
Best New Restaurant: Oriole
Best Sommelier: Rachel Driver Speckan (City Winery)
Best Mixologist, Presented by Breakthru Beverage Illinois: Julia Momose (GreenRiver)
Best Restaurant Design: Dixie
Best Restaurant Service: BOKA
Best Alternative Dining: Nomad
Banchet Culinary Achievement Award: Rick Bayless
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 FEBRUARY 7 - FEBRUARY 20. The proposed nominations are tallied and the results are further narrowed by the Jean Banchet Panel. The final five nominees in each category will be announced on MARCH 2, 2022.
*Eligibility: Award winners from previous three years (2018-2020) 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 MARCH 21 and APRIL 1, 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, MAY 1, 2022 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.