In a nearly-unprecedented reversal of fortune last night, Chicago chefs and restaurants got slammed at the James Beard Awards dinner in New York. Unlike our usual banner showing, Chicago took home just one single award - an "Outstanding Restauranteur" award for Lettuce Entertain You owner Rich Melman. Best of all, he wasn't even there! According to the Trib, he didn't even know the Beard Awards were happening. Rick Bayless was not happy about it; on Twitter, he wrote "Total shut out for Chicago tonight at Beard Awards! Worse yet: 1 of top 3 awards goes to Melman--r only chance to shine.NO SHOW!AT BEARDS??" There's more carnage - keep reading. more ›

Dickens wrote, "It was the best of times. It was the worst of times." So it seems with Bucktown's Scylla. Bon Apetit's annual restaurants issue comes out this week, and according to "the Extrovert" blog at Metromix, Bucktown's Scylla merits inclusion (the only Chicago restaurant to do so, apparently). And even that is for their grilled lamb with curried vegetables and grape and pine nut gremolata, not the inventive approach to seafood that earned the restaurant and chef Stephanie Izzard wide praise. more ›

The James L. Beard Awards — the Oscars of the culinary world — were handed out last night. Though Chicago didn't win a large number of awards, we did win one of the most important ones, so we can take solace in that. more ›

The James L. Beard Award nominees were announced yesterday and as in years past, Chicago represented. And the Chicago-based nominees are: Outstanding Restaurateur: Richard Melman, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises Outstanding Chef: Jean Joho, Everest and Paul Kahan, Blackbird Outstanding Restaurant: Frontera Grill and Spiaggia Rising Star Chef of the Year: Graham Elliot Bowles, Avenues Outstanding Pastry Chef: Mindy Segal, HotChocolate Outstanding Service: Tru Outstanding Wine Service: Bin 36, Wine Director Brian Duncan Best Chef, Great... more ›

Author Michael Ruhlman more ›

Chicago native and renowned chef Paul Kahan was honored Monday with the James Beard Award for best Midwest chef. The Beard Awards are considered the Oscars of food, according to the Sun-Times, but even if they were considered the SAG Awards or the Kids’ Choice awards, Kahan would still make Chicago proud. Kahan has been wowing Midwestern foodies from his West Loop kitchen at Blackbird, using a minimalist style for seasonal American chow with a hardcore French influence. Blackbird’s menu changes every week, so big props for keeping the menu section of the website updated, and each month Kahan posts a how-to recipe; even if Chicagoist isn’t going to be making any guinea hens any time soon, we still think it’s a nice gesture.
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