2014 James Beard Nominees Announced

The tables are set at The Publican…

You could forgive the team from One Off Hospitality for being a little giddy yesterday. Not only had their chef-patriarch – Paul Kahan – picked up a “Who’s Who in Food & Beverage” from the James Beard Foundation (he is the reigning co-Chef of the Year from the JBF), but the company also boasted nominees in Outstanding Bar Program (Violet Hour), Rising Star Chef (David Posey, Blackbird), Pastry Chef (Dana Cree) and Restaurateur (Donnie Madia). “It’s really the seven of us, not just me” said Madia, beaming like a schoolboy shortly after the nominations were announced at yet another of his properties, The Publican.

Other local nominees included Jimmy Bannos, Jr., for Rising Star Chef in the U.S. (The Purple Pig), grace (for Restaurant Design under 75 seats), Topolobampo (Service) and Spiaggia (Restaurant). The Best Chef: Great Lakes category is usually dominated by Chicagoans, and this year is no exception. Of the five nominees, only one hails from Cleveland; the others are all local boys: Dave Beran (Next), Curtis Duffy (grace), Paul Virant (Vie) and Andrew Zimmerman (Sepia). In the cookbook category, The French Pastry School’s Jacquy Pfeiffer has a nomination in the Baking category, for The Art of French Pastry. For the first time in a hell of a long time, there were no Chicagoans nominated in either the journalism or broadcast/digital media categories. Sadly, most of those nominees came from national publications or programs.

The best line of the morning came from our illustrious mayor, who can be seen every Thursday night on CNN getting tough on crime. “In New York, you host the stars of the culinary experience,” he said, referring to the gala that is yet to come on May 5th. “In Chicago, we produce them.”