Chicago Hosts 2025 James Beard Awards

Categories: CulinaryEvents/What's HappeningNews

Attendees celebrate culinary achievements at the 2025 James Beard Awards in Chicago.

News Summary

The 2025 James Beard Foundation Awards were held at the Lyric Opera House in Chicago, celebrating culinary excellence. Despite the presence of finalists from Las Vegas, none won awards this year. The event emphasized diversity and unity in the restaurant industry, with notable winners and new categories introduced. The awards, reminiscent of food’s Oscars, highlight prestigious chefs and the evolving culinary landscape. Chicago’s rich food culture was showcased prominently, and the James Beard Foundation plans to continue hosting the awards in the city through upcoming years.

Chicago Hosts 2025 James Beard Awards

The 2025 James Beard Foundation Awards took place on June 16 at the Lyric Opera House in Chicago, celebrating outstanding achievements in the restaurant and bar industry. While the event highlighted numerous local talents, it was noted that none of the award winners hailed from Las Vegas, a city known for its vibrant culinary scene.

This year’s awards featured a variety of categories, including Outstanding Restaurant, Best Chef, and Best New Chef, alongside new categories like Best New Bar and Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service. Eater hosted the official livestream of the ceremony, which aimed to spotlight the best in the industry amidst conversations around diversity and unity.

Among the notable finalists from Las Vegas were Cristie Norman from Delilah, who was nominated for Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service, and Sarah Thompson from Casa Playa and Eleazar Villanueva from Restaurant de Joël Robuchon, both recognized in the Best Chef: Southwest category. However, despite these recognitions, none secured a win.

In a twist of fate, Kyurim “Q” Lee and Jin Caldwell of JinJu Patisserie were awarded the national title for Outstanding Bakery, although their current base is in Portland, Oregon. The duo previously gained significant experience working in several high-profile establishments in Las Vegas, including the Aria, Wynn, Bellagio, and Joel Robuchon.

The James Beard Awards are widely regarded as food’s equivalent of the Oscars, honoring excellence in various culinary disciplines since their inception in 1991. Over the years, they have recognized numerous prominent chefs such as Rick Bayless, Nancy Silverton, and Wolfgang Puck.

In recent years, the James Beard Foundation has faced criticism following the cancellation of its programming in 2020 and 2021 due to allegations against nominated chefs and concerns regarding diversity among winners. In response, the foundation conducted an internal audit to enhance its voting processes and foster more equitable representations in its awards. This included a restructured voting model for the Best Chef category, aimed at recognizing a more diverse pool of talent.

Highlights from the Awards Ceremony

The ceremony delivered a powerful message regarding diversity amid shifting immigration landscapes in Mexico. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson attended the event and emphasized the rich culinary traditions of Chicago. Julia Momosé, representing Kumiko, received the Outstanding Bar award and highlighted the importance of hospitality infused with personal heritage, reflecting Chicago’s deep cultural tapestry.

Noah Sandoval from Oriole was honored as Best Chef: Great Lakes but was unable to attend. In his absence, a message was read expressing strong sentiments against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Meanwhile, Frasca Food and Wine in Boulder, Colorado, clinched the Outstanding Restaurant award, while the Best Chef: Great Lakes category typically sees strong competition from Chicago-based chefs.

This year, Chicago’s culinary community shone brightly, with five restaurants receiving multiple nominations. The recognition of Lem’s Bar-B-Q as an “American Classic” further added to the pride in the local culinary heritage.

Looking forward, the James Beard Foundation has plans to continue hosting the awards in Chicago through at least 2027, with aspirations to keep the event in the city beyond that. The enhanced focus on Chicago’s food scene during the awards ceremony reinforced its status as a premier destination for culinary excellence.