New York magazine got their hands on a copy of this year's James Beard award ballots (check it out for yourself here) and as usual, our city's restaurants are well-represented. 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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