Banchet Awards will honor Gene & Georgetti as first Iconic Restaurant winner

Congratulations to all the Chicago nominees for the 2026 Jean Banchet Awards, the city’s premier celebration of culinary excellence. The ceremony is set for Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, at Venue SIX10, located at 610 S Michigan Ave. Tickets are now on sale and are expected to sell out quickly. Gene & Georgetti will be honored with the first Iconic Restaurant of the Year Award. 

Restaurant of the Year nominees are Cellar Door Provisions, HaiSous Vietnamese Kitchen, Indienne, and Proxi.

Chef of the Year nominees include Andrew Lim (Perilla, Perilla Steakhouse, Noriko), Jennifer Kim (Proxi), John Manion (El Che, Brasero), and Zubair Mohajir (Lilac Tiger, The Coach House, Mirra, Sarima).

Best New Restaurant nominees are Cafe Yaya, Feld, Il Carciofo, and Void.

Rising Chef of the Year nominees include Alex Cochran (Cellar Door Provisions), Bailey Sullivan (Monteverde), César Murillo (North Pond), and Javauneeka Jacobs (Frontera Grill).

Best Neighborhood Restaurant nominees are Bungalow by Middle Brow, Coda di Volpe, Mahari, and Maplewood.

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Best Heritage Restaurant nominees include M’daKhan, Nine Garden, Tesfa Ethiopian Cuisine, and Torizen.

Best Counter Service nominees are Kanin, Rendang Republic, Sanders BBQ Supply Co, and Taquizas Valdez.

Pastry Chef of the Year nominees include Courtney Kenyon (Obelix), Justin Lerias (Del Sur), Mary Eder-McClure (Galit and Cafe Yaya), and Dedre McGee (Pookie Crack Cakes).

Bar of the Year or Beverage Program of the Year nominees are Cantina Rosa – Maria Rodriguez, Daisies – Nicole Yarovinsky, Elske – Monica Casillas-Rios, and Gus’ Sip & Dip – Kevin Beary and Scott Kitsmiller.

Sommelier of the Year nominees include Alex Cuper (Brasero), Emily Sher (Elske), Jonas Bittencourt (Class Act), and Owen Huzar (John’s Food & Wine).

Best Hospitality nominees are Asador Bastian, Feld, Minyoli, and Perilla Fare.

Best Design nominees include Adalina Prime, Matilda, Noriko Handroll Bar, and The Alston.

Chef Grant Achatz of Alinea will receive the Culinary Excellence Award, and Gene & Georgetti will be recognized as the first Iconic Restaurant of the Year.

The Jean Banchet Awards, established in 2002 in honor of the influential chef Jean Banchet, recognize outstanding achievements in Chicago's restaurant and hospitality industry. This year's event highlights the chefs, restaurants, and visionaries shaping the city's food and beverage scene.

Tickets for the 2026 Banchet Awards are now on sale. Given the event's popularity, it is advisable to secure tickets soon. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the official Banchet Awards website.