Traveling
Beards
The foodieOscars visit
Chicago
BY JENNYADAMS
F
or thepast24years,
theJamesBeard
Awardshavebeenhosted
in theFoundation’shometownof
NewYorkCity.Thisyear, theyare
takingaroad trip.The2015James
BeardAwards&GalaReception,
oftencalled theOscarsof the
food-and-beverage industry,
will takeplace for thefirst
timeever in theWindyCity.
“Chicago isoneof
America’sgreatest food
cities,”saysSusanUngaro,
presidentof theJamesBeard
Foundation. “AfterNewYork, it
has themostJamesBeardAward-
winningchefsandrestaurants.”
Started in1986 tohonor the
passingofcelebratedcookbook
authorand teacherJamesBeard,
hisnamesake foundation isa
nonprofitaimedatmentoring
futuregenerationsofchefsand
foodenthusiasts.Dinners, lectures
andeventsareheldweekly inhis
historic townhome inManhattan’s
GreenwichVillage.Over the last
twodecades, the foundationhas
grown, spawning theJamesBeard
Awards in1990.
“The foundationhasheld its
nominationannouncements in
citiesallover thecountry,”says
Ungaro, “but in2013, thecityof
Chicago invitedus toconsider
holding theactual2015awards
ceremony there, andworkingwith
thecity isproving tobeagreat
partnership forus.”
Thisyear’svenuewillalsoadd
gravitas to theevent.Thousands
areexpected toarriveat the
gorgeousLyricOpera,dressed to
match theeleganceof theoccasion
inaspacenormallydedicated
tohonoringelitemusicians. It
willbe transformed tosing the
praisesofAmerica’soutstanding
talents in thefieldsofculinary
andbeverageartson theevening
ofMay4, followedbyagrandgala
celebration.Expectabetterclass
ofhors-d’oeuvres.
JAMESBEARD.ORG
JimmyBannos Jr.
of ThePurplePig
500NORTHMICHIGANAVE.
WINNER:
RISINGSTARCHEFAWARD, 2014
Jimmyrecommends:
HEAVENONSEVENWABASH
ORDER:
THECHICKENANDANDOUILLE
SAUSAGEGUMBOANDAFRIED
OYSTERPO-BOY
SPIAGGIA
MUSTTRY:
GNOCCHIWITHWILD
BOARRAGU
AUCHEVAL
DEVOUR:
THECRISPYPOTATOHASH
WITHDUCK-HEARTGRAVY
DaveBeran
ofNextRestaurant
953WESTFULTONMARKET
WINNER:
BESTCHEF, GREATLAKES, 2014
Daverecommends:
LITTLEGOATDINER
ORDER:
THECHICKPEASALAD
FLYINGSAUCER
MUSTTRY:
THEVEGANPANCAKES
AVEC
DEVOUR:
THEPORKSHOULDERWITH
WHITEBEANSANDTHE
BACON-WRAPPEDDATES
WITHCHORIZO
GrantAchatz
ofAlinea
1723NORTHHALSTEDST.
WINNER:
BESTCHEF, GREATLAKES, 2007
Grantrecommends:
GTFISH&OYSTER
ORDER:
CLAMCHOWDERWITHNUESKE’S
BACONANDHOUSEMADEOYSTER
CRACKERS
BOKA
MUSTTRY:
THEROASTEDCHICKEN
MAUDE’SLIQUORBAR
DEVOUR:
THESHAVED-VEGSALADAND
MAUDE’SSTEAK
Headed toChicago?Here, three former
JamesBeardwinners recommend some
of their favorite restaurants.
2014 JamesBeard
Awardwinner
Daniel Patterson (left)
enjoying the celebration
HOTELS &RESORTS
FINEDINING
NIGHTLIFE
Style
BFA
CELEBRATED LIVING • SPRING 2015
26
THE PLATINUM LIST
