Woah. New York City, the Mecca of all things culinary and the epicentre of some of the world’s best restaurants has lost the world famous James Beard Awards…to Chicago!
Established in 1990 the James Beard Foundation’s Restaurant & Chef Awards are the highest honour for American chefs and restaurants. Think Oscars for the culinary realm… Since it’s inception, the awards have always taken place at the Lincoln Centre in New York City and for the first time in 25 years, the 2015 Awards will be held in Chicago, the city where deep-dish pizzas have the entire continent drooling.
“It is a tremendous honour to welcome the James Beard Foundation Awards to Chicago,”said Sam Toia,(President and CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association).“The decision to bring the Awards here is a testament to the dedicated chefs and restaurateurs who work tirelessly to innovate and shine a bright light on Chicago as a gastronomic hub. This is a very proud moment for them, for the City, and for the Illinois Restaurant Association as we celebrate our 100th anniversary year.”
In a city that boasts over 40 Culinary James Beard Awards, Chicago is not a random choice. They’ve definitely earned their spot to play with the culinary big boys in the industry. Congrats to our American twin we say!
Do you have thoughts on Chicago hosting the James Beard Awards? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @ViewTheVibe.
