Introduction to the Banchet Awards

The annual Banchet Awards for Culinary Excellence, Chicago’s top food world awards, were held last night at Venue SIX10. Twelve awards were given out, and the big honors of the night included Restaurant of the Year to Indienne, Chef of the Year to John Manion of El Che Steakhouse and Brasero, and Best New Restaurant to Feld. Jake Potashnick’s Feld also took home the award for Best Hospitality, while sommelier Alex Cuper of El Che Steakhouse and Brasero was named Sommelier of the Year.

Major Honors and Awards

In addition to the winners — voted on by an anonymous panel of food journalists and industry experts — there were two other major honors given out last night. Gene & Georgetti was named the first-ever Iconic Restaurant of the Year, nodding to its long legacy in Chicago’s dining scene (which is still very much of the moment — we named it No. 6 on our recent ranking of best steakhouses). The other honor, the Culinary Excellence Award, went to Grant Achatz of Alinea for his 20 years as one of the Chicago’s fine dining leaders. While accepting the award, he spoke about the drive to keep innovating at his flagship restaurant, and noted that he could “only have opened it in Chicago,” thanks to the quality of chefs working in the city and the receptive nature of local diners and media.

List of Winners

Here’s the full list of winners.

• Rising Chef of the Year: Javauneeka Jacobs of Frontera Grill
• Best New Restaurant: Feld
• Best Neighborhood Restaurant: Mahari
• Sommelier of the Year: Alex Cuper of Brasero and El Che Steakhouse & Bar
• Best Counter Service: Sanders BBQ Supply Co.
• Best Hospitality: Feld
• Bar of the Year: Gus’ Sip & Dip
• Best Heritage Restaurant: Nine Garden
• Best Restaurant Design: The Alston
• Pastry Chef of the Year: Justin Lerias of Del Sur Bakery & Cafe
• Chef of the Year: John Manion of Brasero and El Che Steakhouse & Bar
• Restaurant of the Year: Indienne

Conclusion

The Banchet Awards for Culinary Excellence have once again highlighted the vibrant and diverse culinary scene in Chicago. With winners ranging from established icons like Gene & Georgetti to newcomers like Feld, the awards demonstrate the city’s commitment to innovation and excellence in dining. As Grant Achatz noted, Chicago’s unique combination of talented chefs, receptive diners, and supportive media makes it an ideal place for culinary innovation and growth.

FAQs

• Q: What are the Banchet Awards?
  A: The Banchet Awards for Culinary Excellence are Chicago’s top food world awards, recognizing excellence in various categories of the culinary industry.
• Q: Who were some of the big winners of the night?
  A: Some of the big winners included Indienne as Restaurant of the Year, John Manion as Chef of the Year, and Feld as Best New Restaurant.
• Q: What is the significance of the Iconic Restaurant of the Year award?
  A: The Iconic Restaurant of the Year award, given to Gene & Georgetti, recognizes a restaurant’s long-standing contribution and legacy in Chicago’s dining scene.
• Q: Who received the Culinary Excellence Award?
  A: Grant Achatz of Alinea received the Culinary Excellence Award for his 20 years of leadership in Chicago’s fine dining scene.