Dine With 2017 James Beard Foundation Winners at Chicago’s Awards Gala

Fiona Chandra

The James Beard Foundation Award is one of the most prestigious and talked-about awards in the culinary world across the country and the globe, and the 2017 awards announcement is almost upon us. On May 1, 2017, the chef and restaurant awards will be announced during the Awards Gala, taking place at the Lyric Opera in Chicago. The awards ceremony will be hosted by actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson from ABC’s “Modern Family.”

Guests who attend the gala would be sure to rub elbows with at least some of this year’s semifinalists which include Chefs David Kinch of Manresa (Los Gatos), Gabrielle Hamilton from Prune (NYC), Christopher Kostow from The Restaurant at Meadowood (St. Helena), Ludo Lefebvre from Trois Mec (LA), Corey Lee from Benu (SF), and many more. The contenders for this year’s Best New Restaurant award include Gwen (Los Angeles), Roister (Chicago), Le Coucou (NYC), Tartine Manufactory (San Francisco), and other restaurants from Boston to Honolulu. The title for Outstanding Restaurant will be a difficult decision with some strong nominees such as Jaleo (Washington, DC), Quince (SF), Pizzeria Bianco (Phoenix), The Spotted Pig (NYC), and L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon (Las Vegas).

The gala reception will feature a walk-around tasting with at least 20 renowned chefs from all over the country. The lineup naturally includes some of the most well-known chefs in the country. Guests who attend the gala reception will get to sample food from Chefs Grant Achatz from Alinea (Chicago), Joanne Chang from Flour Bakery (Boston), Vinny Dotolo and Jon Shook (Animal, Los Angeles), Belinda Leong from B Patisseria (San Francisco), Dahlia Narvaez from the Mozza Restaurant Group (Los Angeles), and more.

The award ceremony will start at 6 p.m. and will last approximately three hours. The awards reception will begin immediately following the ceremony. Guests are asked to arrive by 5:30 p.m. General admission tickets are $500 ($425 for James Beard Foundation members). The VIP reception will feature Chef Tony Mantuano from Spiaggia (Chicago). Information about the VIP experience can be obtained by calling (914) 231-6180.

James Beard Foundation Awards Gala will be on May 1, 2017. Purchase tickets here.