The Jean Banchet Awards for Culinary Excellence is the only Chicago-based awards presentation that recognizes and rewards culinary originality and talent in the Chicagoland area. Forty-four exceptional chefs, sommeliers, mixologists, restaurants and catering companies will vie for the annual Chicago awards and, for the first time, the nominating process will be open to the public. The top four names in each category will become the 2011 Jean Banchet nominees. The winners for each category will be selected by all participating and nominated chefs voting by secret ballot. The 11th Annual Jean Banchet Awards for Culinary Excellence will be presented on Friday, January 27, 2012 at the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Grand Chefs Gala.
2011 JEAN BANCHET AWARD NOMINEES
Chef of the Year
Ryan LaRoche, NoMI
Dan Pancake, Autre Monde
Giuseppe Tentori, GT Fish & Oyster - WINNER
Andrew Zimmerman, Sepia
Pastry Chef of the Year
Bryce Caron, Blackbird
Meg Galus, NoMI
Amanda Rockman, The Bristol - WINNER
Cindy Schuman, Sepia
Chef-de-Cuisine
Dave Beran, Next - WINNER
Sean Pharr, NoMI
David Posey, Blackbird
Brian Runge, Graham Elliot
Rising Chef
Chris Curren, Blue 13
Danny Grant, RIA
Chris Macchia, Coco Pazzo - WINNER
Paul Dobroski, NoMI
Rising Pastry Chef
Aya Fukai, RIA
Sarah Jordan, BOKA - WINNER
Stephanie Mazzone, Coco Pazzo
Kady Yon, Pump Room at Public Chicago
Eurest People's Choice Award
Jimmy Bannos, Jr., The Purple Pig - WINNER
Ryan LaRoche, NoMI
Dan Pancake, Autre Monde
Giuseppe Tentori, GT Fish & Oyster - WINNER
Andrew Zimmerman, Sepia
Pastry Chef of the Year
Bryce Caron, Blackbird
Meg Galus, NoMI
Amanda Rockman, The Bristol - WINNER
Cindy Schuman, Sepia
Chef-de-Cuisine
Dave Beran, Next - WINNER
Sean Pharr, NoMI
David Posey, Blackbird
Brian Runge, Graham Elliot
Rising Chef
Chris Curren, Blue 13
Danny Grant, RIA
Chris Macchia, Coco Pazzo - WINNER
Paul Dobroski, NoMI
Rising Pastry Chef
Aya Fukai, RIA
Sarah Jordan, BOKA - WINNER
Stephanie Mazzone, Coco Pazzo
Kady Yon, Pump Room at Public Chicago
Eurest People's Choice Award
Jimmy Bannos, Jr., The Purple Pig - WINNER
Best Sommelier
Scott Harney, Eno at the Intercontinental
Michael Muser, The Peninsula Chicago - WINNER
Dan Pilkey, RIA
Aaron Sherman, NoMI
Best Mixologist
Stephen Cole, Barrelhouse Flat
Lynn House, Blackbird
Debbi Peek, The Bristol
Josh Pearson, Sepia - WINNER
Best Neighborhood Restaurant
Autre Monde
The Bristol - WINNER
Maude's Liqour Bar
Vera
Best Fine Dining
Blue 13
Coco Pazzo
Next - WINNER
Sepia
Best New Restaurant
Autre Monde
GT Fish & Oyster
Next - WINNER
Vera
Best Catering Company
BOKA Catering
Catering by Michaels
Entertaining Company
Limelight - WINNER
Scott Harney, Eno at the Intercontinental
Michael Muser, The Peninsula Chicago - WINNER
Dan Pilkey, RIA
Aaron Sherman, NoMI
Best Mixologist
Stephen Cole, Barrelhouse Flat
Lynn House, Blackbird
Debbi Peek, The Bristol
Josh Pearson, Sepia - WINNER
Best Neighborhood Restaurant
Autre Monde
The Bristol - WINNER
Maude's Liqour Bar
Vera
Best Fine Dining
Blue 13
Coco Pazzo
Next - WINNER
Sepia
Best New Restaurant
Autre Monde
GT Fish & Oyster
Next - WINNER
Vera
Best Catering Company
BOKA Catering
Catering by Michaels
Entertaining Company
Limelight - WINNER
2010 JEAN BANCHET AWARD WINNERS
Celebrity Chef: Curtis Duffy, Avenues
Celebrity Pastry Chef: Patrick Fahy, Blackbird
Chef-de-Cuisine: Koren Grieveson, Avec
Rising Chef: Chris Pandel, The Bristol
Rising Pastry Chef: Amanda Rockman, The Bristol
Best Sommelier: Rachael Lowe, Sixteen
Best Neighborhood Restaurant: Kith & Kin, Andrew Brochu
Best Fine Dining: Alinea, Grant Achatz
Best Catering Company: Berghoff Catering
People’s Choice Award: Jim Chapman, Eurest Dining Services
To Benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation