On Sunday, Jan. 26, 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.
Chosen through a combination of anonymous panel selections and live audience polls, awardees were revealed across 13 categories, including new category Best Pizza.
From newcomers like Cariño (Best New Restaurant) and Tre Dita (Best Design) to longtime institutions like Avec (Restaurant of The Year) and Spacca Napoli Pizzeria (Best Pizza of The Year), award recipients were recognized for their contributions to Chicago’s restaurant industry.
The ceremony featured cameos from industry legends, including “The Tamale Guy” Claudio Velez, Kasama’s Genie Kwon, Tim Flores, “Breakfast Queen” Ina Pinkney and more.
James Beard Award-winning chef Roland Liccioni received the Culinary Excellence of the Year Award for his 40-year-long career in the local dining scene, including his work as chef-partner of Le Francais with Jean Banchet and as chef de cuisine of Les Nomades.
Named after the award-winning chef who helped put Chicago on the culinary map with suburban French eatery Le Francais, the Jean Banchet Awards for Culinary Excellence honor innovative local talent while paying homage to chef Banchet’s legacy.