Chicago's 2019 James Beard Awards Winners

The James Beard Awards, often called the Oscars of food because of their influence in the United States' culinary scene, took place today in Chicago at the Civic Opera House. Out of fourteen Chicago finalists, four took home an Award.

Greg Wade of Publican Quality Bread won Outstanding Baker in his third year of being nominated. "I looked to make sure it actually said my name," he said after winning. He took the chance to call people to pay more attention to our food system and how climate change endangers it – and the potential of food to bring people together: "We only have one food system, one way to feed everyone, whether rich or poor. It's time that we come together to cultivate a better, healthier food system for all." On the occasion of his nomination two years ago, he discussed the influence of James Beard and shared his favorite Beard recipe with us.

Parts and Labor Design won Outstanding Restaurant Design, 76 Seats and Over, for Pacific Standard Time, the acclaimed restaurant opened last year with Chef Erling Wu-Bower at its head. 

Greg Wade of Publican Quality Bread won Outstanding Baker on his third nomination. Photo: Galdo Photography

Beverly Kim and Johnny Clark of Parachute won Best Chef: Great Lakes out of a field of six Chicago chefs, on their third year as finalists in the category. They have been featured by WTTW frequently: they answered Catherine De Orio’s questions about their modern Korean food and their favorite Korean joint in Chicago, and Kim also appeared on Dishalicious and shared a recipe for a miso-spiked baked apple dessert. "This is our fourth nomination, so we didn't feel as much anticipation this year," Clark said. "We're used to sitting there and just waiting, so we're so happy to be here, and it feels a bit surreal," Kim added. They're planning on opening a new restaurant this year, so it's perfect timing for the Award. 

Finally, Rob Katz and Kevin Boehm of the Boka Restaurant Group, which is responsible for Stephanie Izard's restaurants such as Girl and the Goat, GT Fish and Oyster, Boka, Momotaro, and other Chicago stalwarts, have won Outstanding Restaurateur on their fourth nomination. Both the chef, Lee Wolen, and pastry chef, Meg Galus, of Boka may not have taken home an Award this year, but the restaurant group still has a big win. 

Boka Restaurant Group's Rob Katz and Kevin Boehm, pictured with Chef Daniel Boulud, won Outstanding Restaurateur. Photo: Galdo Photography

Last fall, the James Beard Foundation announced several changes to the policies governing the selection of the Awards in an attempt to make the Awards more inclusive and diverse. Last year, before the changes were enacted but after the Foundation encouraged voters to take into account nominees' behavior in the wake of #MeToo allegations against various prominent chefs, eleven of the sixteen top categories that go to a person rather than a restaurant were won by women or people of color. This year, ten of those sixteen were won by women or people of color. 

The James Beard Media Awards, which cover books, television, digital series, and journalism, took place on April 26 in New York City. Among the winners were two PBS series: Chef Marcus Samuelsson won Outstanding Personality for hosting No Passport Required, which visited Chicago's Mexican community in one episode and is available to stream; and Pati's Mexican Table – Tijuana: Stories from the Border won Television Program, in Studio or Fixed Location. 

We interviewed several of the nominees as well as some other celebrities on the red carpet. 

(Video shot by Keegan Morris, produced by Keegan Morris and Daniel Hautzinger, and edited by Tim Boyd.)