Located in Hyde Park, Creole and Afro-Fusion dining destination Mahari was awarded Best Neighborhood Restaurant.
Photo by Kristen Mendiola Media
On Sunday, Jan. 25, hundreds of culinary aficionados and industry luminaries gathered at Michigan Avenue’s Venue SIX10 to pay tribute to the winners and honorees of this year’s Jean Banchet Awards. More than 400 guests were in attendance at the sold-out event, celebrating one of the city’s premier dining accolades.
Named after the iconic chef who helped put Chicago on the culinary map with suburban French eatery Le Francais, the award honors the chefs, restaurants and visionaries who are making their mark in the city’s food and beverage scene.
Chosen through a combination of anonymous panel selections and live audience polls, awardees were revealed across 13 categories. From newcomers like Feld (Best New Restaurant) and The Alston (Best Design) to longtime institutions like Gene & Georgetti (Iconic Restaurant) and Indienne (Best Hospitality), award recipients were recognized for their contributions to Chicago’s restaurant industry.
Chef Grant Achatz was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award for Culinary Excellence.
Photo by Kristen Mendiola Media
James Beard Award-winning chef Grant Achatz (Alinea, Next Restaurant, The Aviary) received the Culinary Excellence of the Year Award for his lasting impact on Chicago dining and global gastronomy.
This year’s ceremony was streamed live for the first time on NBC 5 Chicago, and a portion of the evening’s proceeds benefited the Giving Kitchen, a nonprofit that provides emergency financial assistance and resources to food service workers.
Dining and Cooking