Chicago chefs, restaurants receive prestigious culinary awards

A number of Chicago chefs and restaurants received high honors at The Banchet Awards for Culinary Excellence, a prestigious ceremony recognizing the people and places that define Chicago’s dining scene.

Featuring some of the city’s top chefs and industry leaders, the awards program on Sunday night was billed by organizers as “a celebration of the creativity, dedication and hospitality that make this city one of the world’s great food destinations.”

Famed Chicago Chef Grant Achatz of Alinea received the Culinary Excellence Award, and the local institution Gene & Georgetti was recognized with the first Iconic Restaurant of the Year award.

The night included numerous additional honors.

The full list of winners can be found below:

• Rising Chef – Javauneeka Jacobs – Frontera Grill
• Best Neighborhood Restaurant – Mahari
• Best New Restaurant – Feld
• Iconic Restaurant of the Year – Gene & Georgetti
• Sommelier of the Year – Alex Cuper – El Che, Brasero
• Best Counter Service – Sanders BBQ Supply
• Best Hospitality – Feld
• Bar of the Year – Kevin Beary and Scott Kitsmiller – Gus’ Sip & Dip
• Best Heritage Restaurant – Nine Garden
• Best Design – The Alston
• Culinary Excellence – Grant Achatz – The Alinea Group
• Pastry Chef of the Year – Justin Lerias – Del Sur Bakery
• Chef of the Year – John Manion – El Che, Brasero
• Restaurant of the Year – Indienne