Chicago celebrates the arrival of the 2024 James Beard Awards, kicking off on Thursday, June 6 and extending through Tuesday, June 11. This weekend will be filled with an array of events, featuring special menus, exclusive out-of-town chef and bartender collaborations, educational sessions, and more.
The James Beard Awards celebrate excellence in the culinary and food
media industries, and broader food system. They also honor individuals
who demonstrate a commitment to racial and gender equity, community,
sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive.
Open to the public, 2024 festivities include:
Mordecai's James Beard Special Menu with Cocktail Pairings Thursday, June 6th - Monday, June 10th 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm Mordecai - 3632 North Clark Street, Chicago IL 60613
Mordecai will host a special James Beard menu with cocktail pairings in honor of the ceremony and James Beard Foundation from Thursday, June 6th - Monday, June 10th. Chef Djibril Webb has chosen two recipes from the James Beard Cookbook and Mordecai's Bar Manager, Rena Long, created special cocktails to pair with each dish. The menu includes: Stuffed Little Neck Clams set to pair with the Vintage Mordecai Martini and the Breaded Pork Chop with Dill Caper Gravy paired with a cocktail featuring a coconut fat-washed Benriach 10, Bittermens Tepache pineapple, burnt coconut palm sugar, sfumato, and coriander bitters. A portion of the proceeds from each of the dishes and cocktails (sold a la carte) will be donated to the James Beard Foundation.
Celebration of Old-World Wines with Terraneo Merchants Friday, June 7th, 2024: 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar - 2700 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
To begin a two-part celebration, Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar will host a Happy Hour Take-over from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm to sample a variety of wine with Sasha and Drue from Terraneo Merchants. All wines will be happy hour priced. The event will feature happy hour bites and plates with a Georgian Twist. For the second half of the celebration, the restaurant will pour many bottles of Georgian wine to be passed and many toasts by Sasha and Drue during a traditional Georgian Supra Feast from 6:00 - 8:00 pm.
Le Sud James Beard Tasting Menu Friday, June 7 - Sunday, June 9th, 2024: 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm Le Sud - 2301 W Roscoe Street, Chicago, IL 60618
Le Sud will offer a special tasting menu in honor of James Beard Awards weekend.
A Rooftop Pop-Up featuring James Beard Finalist Strong Water Anaheim at Château Carbide Friday, June 7th, 2024: 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm Château Carbide at Pendry Chicago - 230 N Michigan Ave., 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601
Château Carbide, will welcome the 2024 James Beard Award nominee, Strong Water Anaheim for a bar takeover 24 stories above the city. Operated by husband-and-wife duo Ying Chang and Robert Adamson, Strong Water Anaheim is a nautical-themed “tiki-easy” with rum-based libations. Ying and Robert’s team will be on-site at the Carbide & Carbon Building shaking up a selection of cocktails from the menu of the James Beard Award nominated bar.
The Bartender’s Bookshelf: Toby Maloney & The Violet Hour host Danny Childs, Slow Drinks Friday, June 7th, 2024: 7:30 pm -12:00 am The Violet Hour - 1520 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
James Beard Award-winning author and barman Toby Maloney will welcome Danny Childs, author of Slow Drinks 2024 James Beard Media Award nominee to The Violet Hour for "The Bartender’s Bookshelf." Together with The Violet Hour team, ethnobotanist Danny has crafted a specialty menu that pulls recipes and inspiration from Slow Drinks, his guide to foraging and fermenting seasonal sodas, botanical cocktails, homemade wines, and more. Throughout the night, signed copies of Slow Drinks will be available for purchase on-site with the help of the local Chicago bookstore, The Book Cellar. The Violet Hour will open its doors to the public to meet Danny and Toby and grab a drink from the collaborative menu and a signed copy of the book while supplies last.
Friday, Saturday, Sunday @ Sportsman’s Club 9:00 pm - 2:00 am Sportsman’s Club – 948 N Western Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622
2023 James Beard Award winner for Outstanding Restaurant, Philadelphia-based Friday, Saturday, Sunday, will take over Sportsman's Club's bar. Beginning at 9:00 pm, FSS head bartender Paul MacDonald will showcase some of the restaurant's signature drinks in addition to a few one-night-only creations. This event is first come, first served. No reservations.
Cocktail for a Cause at Bar Mar & Bazaar Meat by José Andrés Saturday, June 8th – Monday, June 10th 2024 All Day Bar Mar & Bazaar Meat by José Andrés - 120 N Upper Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606 In celebration of and a show of commitment to the James Beard Awards in Chicago, Bar Mar by José Andrés and Bazaar Meat by José Andrés will donate a portion of proceeds from each Salt Air Margarita sold from Saturday, June 8 through Monday, June 11 to the James Beard Foundation's Women's Leadership Programs.
Summer Kickoff Party at Baobing Saturday, June 8th, 2024: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Baobing at Duck Duck Goat - 857 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607
Chef Stephanie Izard at Baobing, her Taiwanese-inspired walk-up window next to Duck Duck Goat, will offer cocktails and ice cream sundaes.
Under the Influence: How Dining Trends are Shaping Drink Choices – A Panel Hosted by the James Beard Foundation Saturday, June 8th, 2024: 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm Biân - 600 W Chicago Ave Suite 001, Chicago, IL 60654
Leaders in restaurants, bars, and hospitality, as well as beverage producers, will convene to talk about how dining trends, menu creation, and consumption shape how consumers select their beverages. Kevin Boehm will host the panel alongside Tahiirah Habibi and Richy Petrina, James Beard Awards Committee Members. Rodney Williams, James Beard Foundation Trustee and President, Diageo Beer Company will moderate the conversation. Panelists include: * Gregory Gourdet, Author, Chef and Owner, Kann; 2022 James Beard Book Award Winner; 2023 James Beard Award Winner for Best New Restaurant * Lynnette Marrero, Co-founder, Speed Rack and Partner, Delola * Julia Momosé, Partner and Creative Director, Kumiko; 2022 James Beard Book Award Winner * Tia Polite, Sommelier, Indienne * Aldo Sohm, Wine Director, Le Bernadin, and Aldo Sohm Wine Bar; 2009 James Beard Award Winner for Outstanding Wine Service
Fireside Chat with Diana Wu, Executive Director of Oakland Bloom, and Chef Melissa Tung, Justice for Migrant Women’s Special Culinary Advisor, on Caring for Communities and the Role of the Restaurant Industry Saturday, June 8th, 2024: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Kendall College at National Louis University - 18 S Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60603 RSVP for the Event (info@oaklandbloom.org)
This conversation, moderated by 2022 James Beard Leadership Award honoree and Justice for Migrant Women Founder Mónica Ramírez, will provide insight from two seasoned leaders in the food industry on the role of the restaurant industry in confronting crises and supporting care in the communities that surround them, and the workers that make them run. This conversation will look at trends they have seen since COVID, opportunities and promising practices, and the work that remains to be done.
Immigrant Women Leading Across the Food Supply Chain Saturday, June 8th, 2024: 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Kendall College at National Louis University - 18 S Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60603 RSVP for the Event (info@oaklandbloom.org)
James Beard Leadership Award Honorees Justice for Migrant Women and Oakland Bloom (for Understory) work to advance rights, power, and pathways to ownership for working-class migrant women in food. While migrant women's labor and knowledge are a cornerstone of the food industry at all levels, their voices and experiences are often erased. The event will feature conversation with migrant women in food, discussing their experiences and insights around food and migration, and how they are advancing a more just, connected, healthier, and inclusive vision for the industry and their communities.
Convenience Middle West Saturday, June 8th, 2024: 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm Middle Brow - 2840 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
Middle Brow will feature the Texas barbecue joint, Convenience West to its patio for a pizza collaboration.
Celebration of Caviar with Antonio from Polanco Caviar Saturday, June 8th, 2024: 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar - 2700 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
A two-part celebration with Antonio Salto of Polanco and Chef Guy Meikle of Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar. Reserve Level Tastings: To begin the two-part celebration, Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar will host a sampling of some of Polanco's Reserve level caviars during a tasting led by Antonio Salto. Enjoy a menu of items at your leisure anytime between 4:00 – 6:00 pm. Reservations are $70 a person and are strongly suggested, open to the public. Continue the two-part celebration with Antonio Salto and Chef Guy during a special tasting menu from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. Tickets are $325 a person and all-inclusive with a max capacity of 24 guests, reservations are required.
Served Up: A Rooftop Pop-Up featuring James Beard Outstanding Bar Finalist Barr Hill Cocktail Bar at Château Carbide Saturday, June 8th, 2024: 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm Château Carbide at Pendry Chicago - 230 N Michigan Ave., 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601
Château Carbide will welcome another 2024 James Beard Award nominee for Outstanding Bar, Vermont-based Barr Hill Cocktail Bar, for a bar takeover 24 stories above the city. Barr Hill Cocktail Bar's cocktail menu combines handcrafted ingredients with cutting-edge bar techniques. From 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Barr Hill’s Head Distiller Ryan Christiansen and team will be onsite at the Carbide & Carbon Building chatting shaking up a selection of cocktails from their James Beard Award-nominated menu.
James Beard Tasting Menu at The Coach House Saturday, June 8th, 2024: 6:30 pm The Coach House – 1742 W. Division Street, Chicago, IL
An 8-course tasting menu by 2x James Beard Award-nominated Chef Zubair Mohajir, exploring the primary spices used in South Indian cuisine.
Coffee Chat: Culinary Titans Tackle Sustainability from Planet to Plate to People at Daisies
Sunday, June 9th, 2024: 9:30 am - 11:00 am
Daisies - 2375 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
RSVP for the Event (rsvpchi@h2publicrelations.com)
Chef and Owner Joe Frillman of MICHELIN Green Starred Daisies in Logan Square will gather several of the industries' leading voices in sustainability for an open-to-the-public coffee chat on the morning of Sunday, June 9th featuring Chicago’s own Green City Market, the city’s first year-round nonprofit farmers' market that fights for citywide access to locally-grown, sustainably-produced food. From forging lasting bonds with local farmers to pioneering groundbreaking techniques in waste reduction and supporting local pollinators, the panel will share their insights and strategies for a more sustainable future. As they tackle pressing issues facing the industry today, attendees are welcome to sample a selection of hosted sweets and pastries by Jean Banchet Award-winning Executive Pastry Chef and Partner Leigh Omilinsky of Daisies as well as complimentary coffee and tea moderated by Food & Wine’s Chandra Ram, James Beard Media Award nominee, and IACP Award-nominated associate editorial director Chandra Ram, Daisies welcomes trailblazers including:
Joe Frillman of Daisies in Chicago, IL — MICHELIN Green Star, 2024 James Beard Award Semifinalist for Best Chef: Great Lakes
Chef Rick Bayless — Frontera, Xoco, Bar Sótano & More, Top Chef, Founder of Green City Market & Frontera Farmer Foundation, Seven-Time James Beard Award winner
Chef Geoff Davis of Burdell in Oakland, CA — 2024 James Beard Award nominee for Best Chef: California, Esquire’s Best New Restaurants
Chef Rob Connoley of Bulrush in St. Louis, MO — 2024 James Beard Award nominee for Best Chef: Midwest, Author: Acorns & Cattails: A Modern Foraging Cookbook of Forest, Farm & Field
Patrick Amice of Barr Hill Cocktail Bar and Distillery in Montpelier, VA — General Manager of Hospitality Operations, 2024 James Beard Award nominee for Outstanding Bar Program
Nicole Yarovinsky of Daisies in Chicago, IL — Bar Director, 2x Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards Semi-Finalist
Get Roasted ‘24: Brew and Bites with Big Shoulders Coffee
Sunday, June 9th, 2024: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Big Shoulders Coffee Roasting Works - 2415 W 19th Street, Chicago, IL 60608
The event will feature fresh coffee and homemade pastries, live roasting demonstrations, a micro-lot pour-over station, an espresso bar with a latte art exhibition, mocktails and cocktails created by mixologist, Alicia Scott, and local brewery Alarmist Brewing will be sponsoring the event with a small selection of their craft beers. All guests will receive a bag of freshly roasted coffee to go.
Steph & Chef Friends' Beard Brunch
Sunday, June 9th, 2024: 11:00 am - Onward
Girl & the Goat - 809 W. Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60607
Stephanie Izard alongside Lee Anne Wong, Christina Nguyen, Elizabeth Falkner, and Karen Akunowicz, will host a special brunch. A dish from each chef while supporting the James Beard Foundation's Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Program. Cocktails, beer, and wine will be available for a la carte purchase. Brunch will be a ticketed, family-style event with communal seating.
West Loop’s Sunday Brunch @ Nobu’s Rooftop
Sunday, June 9th, 2024: 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Nobu Chicago Rooftop - 155 N. Peoria Street, Chicago, IL 60607
Nobu will host a Sunday Brunch soiree at The Rooftop, the restaurant and lounge on the 11th floor of Nobu Hotel Chicago. Attendees will be served reception-style Nobu brunch bites and crafted cocktails.
JBF Greens x Mi Tocaya Antojería
Sunday, June 9th, 2024: 12:00pm - 2:30pm
Mi Tocaya Antojería - 2800 W. Lohan Blvd., Chicago IL 60647
Mi Tocaya Antojería will host JBF Greens and open for brunch so that the James Beard Foundation Greens community (and friends!) can ring in the 2024 Awards. Translated to mean "my namesake" in Spanish, Mi Tocaya highlights chef — and James Beard Award nominee — Diana Dávila's mission to reshape Mexican cuisine. For the occasion, chef Diana will prepare a 3-course brunch that provides traditional favorites as well as lesser-known regional specialties inspired by her summers traveling through Mexico.
Up South
Sunday, June 9th, 2024: 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Justice of the Pies - 8655 S Blackstone, Chicago, IL 60619
Chef Maya-Camille Broussard, 2022 James Beard Award nominee for Outstanding Baker, Chef Serigne Mbaye, 2024 James Beard Award nominee for Best New Restaurant, Chef Adrienne Cheatham, 2023 James Beard Media Award nominated author of Sunday Best, and Chef Fariyal Abdullahi, 2024 James Beard Award nominee for Emerging Chef, will celebrate culinary brilliance on the South Side of Chicago. The UP SOUTH pop-up will feature offerings laced with Southern influences while retaining the spirit of the greater Black diaspora. Live music and terrace seating will be available at Justice of the Pies, in the center of Avalon Park on Chicago’s South Side.
The Rise and Impact of Chef Civic Leadership – A Panel Hosted by Chicago Chefs Cook
Sunday, June 9th, 2024: 1:15 pm - 2:15 pm
Kendall College at National Louis University - 18 S Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60603
Panelists include:
Rick Bayless, Frontera, Xoco, Bar Sótano & More, Top Chef, Founder of Green City Market & Frontera Farmer Foundation, Seven-Time James Beard Award Winner
Matthias Merges, Folk Art Management; 2013 James Beard Award Semifinalist – Best Chef: Great Lakes
Erick Williams, Virtue; 2022 James Beard Award Winner, Best Chef: Great Lakes
Culture x Food: Foodways — A Panel Hosted by the James Beard Foundation®
Sunday, June 9th, 2024: 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Kendall College at National Louis University - 18 S Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60603
Explore the ways chefs and restaurateurs express their respective heritage and culture on their menus and in their restaurants—and how they adapt their foodways to new environments. Throughout the session, panelists will share stories about their career paths as well as offer advice on honoring their culture in the restaurant kitchen. The panel will be moderated by Jamila Robinson, Editor-in-Chief, Bon Appétit, and James Beard Awards Emeritus Committee. Panelists include:
Fariyal Abdullahi, Hav & Mar; 2024 James Beard Award Nominee for Emerging Chef
Susan Bae, Moon Rabbit; 2024 James Beard Award Nominee for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker
Serigne Mbaye, Dakar NOLA; 2024 James Beard Award Nominee for Best New Restaurant Awards
Jenner Tomaska, Esmé; 2024 James Beard Award Nominee for Best Chef: Great Lakes Awards
It Takes a Village – A Panel Hosted by The Abundance Setting
Sunday, June 9th, 2024: 3:45 pm - 4:45 pm
Kendall College at National Louis University - 18 S Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60603
Beverly Kim will navigate us through the challenges and triumphs of balancing parenthood with a career in the demanding restaurant industry. Discover strategies for achieving work-life balance, nurturing family connections, and fostering a supportive community within the culinary world. Panelists include:
Ann Ahmed, Khâluna; 2024 James Beard Award Nominee for Best Chef: Midwest
Hamissi Mamba & Nadia Nijimbere, Baobab Fare; 2024 James Beard Awards Nominee for Best Chef: Great Lakes
Darnell Reed, Luella's Southern Kitchen; 2022 James Beard Nominee for Best Chef: Great Lakes
Queers at the Beards
Sunday, June 9th, 2024: 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Nobody’s Darling - 1744 W Balmoral Avenue, Chicago, IL 60640
Queers at Beards will host the only queer celebration of the James Beard Awards weekend. To honor LGBTQIA+ contributions to the culinary world during Pride month, they're hosting a Drag Day Party. Created and hosted by James Beard Award Leadership honoree Chef Mavis-Jay Sanders, join on June 9th, from 3 pm to 6 pm, at Nobody's Darling for a celebration of diversity, creativity, and inclusivity. Tickets include a 3-hour open bar, performances from 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm, and a dance party from 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm.
Gaijin, Beam Suntory, and the Japanese Culture Center hosts an annual celebration of summer with unlimited food, drinks, city pop vinyl, and a Tsukasa Taiko drum performance. Tickets are available either from 4:00 - 6:30 p.m. or 7:00 - 9:30 p.m. and will include passed appetizers, hors d'oeuvres, Osaka-style okonomiyaki, mochi donuts, kakigori, Suntory cocktails & highballs, and -196 Vodka Seltzers. DJ Van Paugam will be in house all evening, and Tsukasa Taiko will perform at 5:30 pm & 7:30 pm.
James Beard Street Market at Lilac Tiger
Sunday, June 9th, 2024: 5:00 pm, 7:00 pm, 9:00 pm
Lilac Tiger – 1742 W. Division Street, Chicago, IL
Inspired by street markets and nightlife, this event will curate an array of 10 food stations, set up throughout Lilac Tiger, The Coach House, and the patio at Lilac Tiger, exploring traditional and modern South Asian street food. This event will also offer a deep-dive into South Asian cocktails, with a curated cocktail menu featuring Paul John Whiskies, Ming River Baijiu, and Mizu Shochu.
Barr Hill x The Violet Hour Takeover
Sunday, June 9th, 2024: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Violet Hour - 1520 N. Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
Chicago’s own James Beard Award-winning bar The Violet Hour will open its doors to 2024 James Beard Award Outstanding Bar nominee Barr Hill Cocktail Bar (Montpelier, VT) for a pop-up takeover in honor of the awards weekend. Guests can choose from a menu of creations from Barr Hill that highlight the sustainable distiller’s raw honey-based spirits alongside TVH classics and a collaborative cocktail crafted by both teams. Tickets include two drinks of your choice from the takeover menu, light passed bites, and a Barr Hill gift bag.
Vine-yl Night with High Street Hospitality Group and Middle Brow
Sunday, June 9th, 2024: 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Middle Brow - 2840 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
Join Vine-yl night where High Street Hospitality Group's team, from JBFA-winning Restaurateur Ellen Yin, joins forces with Middle Brow for a night of music, wine, and pizza. Featuring Middle Brow wines, a.kitchen's somm & DJ Frank Kinyon, High Street hoagies & Middle Brow pizza
Middle West x Cordelia
Tuesday, June 12th, 2024: 2:00 pm
Middle Brow - 2840 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
Middle Brow' will host chef Vinnie Cimino from Cordelia in Cleveland, OH on the patio with modern “granma food.”
Chicago celebrates the arrival of the 2024 James Beard Awards, kicking off on Thursday, June 6 and extending through Tuesday, June 11. This weekend will be filled with an array of events, featuring special menus, exclusive out-of-town chef and bartender collaborations, educational sessions, and more.
The James Beard Awards celebrate excellence in the culinary and food media industries, and broader food system. They also honor individuals who demonstrate a commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive.
Open to the public, 2024 festivities include:
Mordecai's James Beard Special Menu with Cocktail Pairings
Thursday, June 6th - Monday, June 10th
5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Mordecai - 3632 North Clark Street, Chicago IL 60613
Mordecai will host a special James Beard menu with cocktail pairings in honor of the ceremony and James Beard Foundation from Thursday, June 6th - Monday, June 10th. Chef Djibril Webb has chosen two recipes from the James Beard Cookbook and Mordecai's Bar Manager, Rena Long, created special cocktails to pair with each dish. The menu includes: Stuffed Little Neck Clams set to pair with the Vintage Mordecai Martini and the Breaded Pork Chop with Dill Caper Gravy paired with a cocktail featuring a coconut fat-washed Benriach 10, Bittermens Tepache pineapple, burnt coconut palm sugar, sfumato, and coriander bitters. A portion of the proceeds from each of the dishes and cocktails (sold a la carte) will be donated to the James Beard Foundation.
Celebration of Old-World Wines with Terraneo Merchants
Friday, June 7th, 2024: 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar - 2700 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
To begin a two-part celebration, Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar will host a Happy Hour Take-over from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm to sample a variety of wine with Sasha and Drue from Terraneo Merchants. All wines will be happy hour priced. The event will feature happy hour bites and plates with a Georgian Twist. For the second half of the celebration, the restaurant will pour many bottles of Georgian wine to be passed and many toasts by Sasha and Drue during a traditional Georgian Supra Feast from 6:00 - 8:00 pm.
Le Sud James Beard Tasting Menu
Friday, June 7 - Sunday, June 9th, 2024: 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Le Sud - 2301 W Roscoe Street, Chicago, IL 60618
Le Sud will offer a special tasting menu in honor of James Beard Awards weekend.
A Rooftop Pop-Up featuring James Beard Finalist Strong Water Anaheim at Château Carbide
Friday, June 7th, 2024: 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Château Carbide at Pendry Chicago - 230 N Michigan Ave., 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601
Château Carbide, will welcome the 2024 James Beard Award nominee, Strong Water Anaheim for a bar takeover 24 stories above the city. Operated by husband-and-wife duo Ying Chang and Robert Adamson, Strong Water Anaheim is a nautical-themed “tiki-easy” with rum-based libations. Ying and Robert’s team will be on-site at the Carbide & Carbon Building shaking up a selection of cocktails from the menu of the James Beard Award nominated bar.
The Bartender’s Bookshelf: Toby Maloney & The Violet Hour host Danny Childs, Slow Drinks
Friday, June 7th, 2024: 7:30 pm -12:00 am
The Violet Hour - 1520 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
James Beard Award-winning author and barman Toby Maloney will welcome Danny Childs, author of Slow Drinks 2024 James Beard Media Award nominee to The Violet Hour for "The Bartender’s Bookshelf." Together with The Violet Hour team, ethnobotanist Danny has crafted a specialty menu that pulls recipes and inspiration from Slow Drinks, his guide to foraging and fermenting seasonal sodas, botanical cocktails, homemade wines, and more. Throughout the night, signed copies of Slow Drinks will be available for purchase on-site with the help of the local Chicago bookstore, The Book Cellar. The Violet Hour will open its doors to the public to meet Danny and Toby and grab a drink from the collaborative menu and a signed copy of the book while supplies last.
Friday, Saturday, Sunday @ Sportsman’s Club
9:00 pm - 2:00 am
Sportsman’s Club – 948 N Western Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622
2023 James Beard Award winner for Outstanding Restaurant, Philadelphia-based Friday, Saturday, Sunday, will take over Sportsman's Club's bar. Beginning at 9:00 pm, FSS head bartender Paul MacDonald will showcase some of the restaurant's signature drinks in addition to a few one-night-only creations. This event is first come, first served. No reservations.
Cocktail for a Cause at Bar Mar & Bazaar Meat by José Andrés
Saturday, June 8th – Monday, June 10th 2024
All Day
Bar Mar & Bazaar Meat by José Andrés - 120 N Upper Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606
In celebration of and a show of commitment to the James Beard Awards in Chicago, Bar Mar by José Andrés and Bazaar Meat by José Andrés will donate a portion of proceeds from each Salt Air Margarita sold from Saturday, June 8 through Monday, June 11 to the James Beard Foundation's Women's Leadership Programs.
Summer Kickoff Party at Baobing
Saturday, June 8th, 2024: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Baobing at Duck Duck Goat - 857 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607
Chef Stephanie Izard at Baobing, her Taiwanese-inspired walk-up window next to Duck Duck Goat, will offer cocktails and ice cream sundaes.
Under the Influence: How Dining Trends are Shaping Drink Choices – A Panel Hosted by the James Beard Foundation
Saturday, June 8th, 2024: 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Biân - 600 W Chicago Ave Suite 001, Chicago, IL 60654
Leaders in restaurants, bars, and hospitality, as well as beverage producers, will convene to talk about how dining trends, menu creation, and consumption shape how consumers select their beverages. Kevin Boehm will host the panel alongside Tahiirah Habibi and Richy Petrina, James Beard Awards Committee Members. Rodney Williams, James Beard Foundation Trustee and President, Diageo Beer Company will moderate the conversation. Panelists include:
* Gregory Gourdet, Author, Chef and Owner, Kann; 2022 James Beard Book Award Winner; 2023 James Beard Award Winner for Best New Restaurant
* Lynnette Marrero, Co-founder, Speed Rack and Partner, Delola
* Julia Momosé, Partner and Creative Director, Kumiko; 2022 James Beard Book Award Winner
* Tia Polite, Sommelier, Indienne
* Aldo Sohm, Wine Director, Le Bernadin, and Aldo Sohm Wine Bar; 2009 James Beard Award Winner for Outstanding Wine Service
Fireside Chat with Diana Wu, Executive Director of Oakland Bloom, and Chef Melissa Tung, Justice for Migrant Women’s Special Culinary Advisor, on Caring for Communities and the Role of the Restaurant Industry
Saturday, June 8th, 2024: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Kendall College at National Louis University - 18 S Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60603
RSVP for the Event (info@oaklandbloom.org)
This conversation, moderated by 2022 James Beard Leadership Award honoree and Justice for Migrant Women Founder Mónica Ramírez, will provide insight from two seasoned leaders in the food industry on the role of the restaurant industry in confronting crises and supporting care in the communities that surround them, and the workers that make them run. This conversation will look at trends they have seen since COVID, opportunities and promising practices, and the work that remains to be done.
Immigrant Women Leading Across the Food Supply Chain
Saturday, June 8th, 2024: 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Kendall College at National Louis University - 18 S Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60603
RSVP for the Event (info@oaklandbloom.org)
James Beard Leadership Award Honorees Justice for Migrant Women and Oakland Bloom (for Understory) work to advance rights, power, and pathways to ownership for working-class migrant women in food. While migrant women's labor and knowledge are a cornerstone of the food industry at all levels, their voices and experiences are often erased. The event will feature conversation with migrant women in food, discussing their experiences and insights around food and migration, and how they are advancing a more just, connected, healthier, and inclusive vision for the industry and their communities.
Convenience Middle West
Saturday, June 8th, 2024: 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Middle Brow - 2840 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
Middle Brow will feature the Texas barbecue joint, Convenience West to its patio for a pizza collaboration.
Celebration of Caviar with Antonio from Polanco Caviar
Saturday, June 8th, 2024: 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar - 2700 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
A two-part celebration with Antonio Salto of Polanco and Chef Guy Meikle of Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar. Reserve Level Tastings: To begin the two-part celebration, Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar will host a sampling of some of Polanco's Reserve level caviars during a tasting led by Antonio Salto. Enjoy a menu of items at your leisure anytime between 4:00 – 6:00 pm. Reservations are $70 a person and are strongly suggested, open to the public. Continue the two-part celebration with Antonio Salto and Chef Guy during a special tasting menu from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. Tickets are $325 a person and all-inclusive with a max capacity of 24 guests, reservations are required.
Served Up: A Rooftop Pop-Up featuring James Beard Outstanding Bar Finalist Barr Hill Cocktail Bar at Château Carbide
Saturday, June 8th, 2024: 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Château Carbide at Pendry Chicago - 230 N Michigan Ave., 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601
Château Carbide will welcome another 2024 James Beard Award nominee for Outstanding Bar, Vermont-based Barr Hill Cocktail Bar, for a bar takeover 24 stories above the city. Barr Hill Cocktail Bar's cocktail menu combines handcrafted ingredients with cutting-edge bar techniques. From 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Barr Hill’s Head Distiller Ryan Christiansen and team will be onsite at the Carbide & Carbon Building chatting shaking up a selection of cocktails from their James Beard Award-nominated menu.
James Beard Tasting Menu at The Coach House
Saturday, June 8th, 2024: 6:30 pm
The Coach House – 1742 W. Division Street, Chicago, IL
An 8-course tasting menu by 2x James Beard Award-nominated Chef Zubair Mohajir, exploring the primary spices used in South Indian cuisine.
Coffee Chat: Culinary Titans Tackle Sustainability from Planet to Plate to People at Daisies
Sunday, June 9th, 2024: 9:30 am - 11:00 am
Daisies - 2375 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
RSVP for the Event (rsvpchi@h2publicrelations.com)
Chef and Owner Joe Frillman of MICHELIN Green Starred Daisies in Logan Square will gather several of the industries' leading voices in sustainability for an open-to-the-public coffee chat on the morning of Sunday, June 9th featuring Chicago’s own Green City Market, the city’s first year-round nonprofit farmers' market that fights for citywide access to locally-grown, sustainably-produced food. From forging lasting bonds with local farmers to pioneering groundbreaking techniques in waste reduction and supporting local pollinators, the panel will share their insights and strategies for a more sustainable future. As they tackle pressing issues facing the industry today, attendees are welcome to sample a selection of hosted sweets and pastries by Jean Banchet Award-winning Executive Pastry Chef and Partner Leigh Omilinsky of Daisies as well as complimentary coffee and tea moderated by Food & Wine’s Chandra Ram, James Beard Media Award nominee, and IACP Award-nominated associate editorial director Chandra Ram, Daisies welcomes trailblazers including:
Joe Frillman of Daisies in Chicago, IL — MICHELIN Green Star, 2024 James Beard Award Semifinalist for Best Chef: Great Lakes
Chef Rick Bayless — Frontera, Xoco, Bar Sótano & More, Top Chef, Founder of Green City Market & Frontera Farmer Foundation, Seven-Time James Beard Award winner
Chef Geoff Davis of Burdell in Oakland, CA — 2024 James Beard Award nominee for Best Chef: California, Esquire’s Best New Restaurants
Chef Rob Connoley of Bulrush in St. Louis, MO — 2024 James Beard Award nominee for Best Chef: Midwest, Author: Acorns & Cattails: A Modern Foraging Cookbook of Forest, Farm & Field
Patrick Amice of Barr Hill Cocktail Bar and Distillery in Montpelier, VA — General Manager of Hospitality Operations, 2024 James Beard Award nominee for Outstanding Bar Program
Nicole Yarovinsky of Daisies in Chicago, IL — Bar Director, 2x Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards Semi-Finalist
Get Roasted ‘24: Brew and Bites with Big Shoulders Coffee
Sunday, June 9th, 2024: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Big Shoulders Coffee Roasting Works - 2415 W 19th Street, Chicago, IL 60608
The event will feature fresh coffee and homemade pastries, live roasting demonstrations, a micro-lot pour-over station, an espresso bar with a latte art exhibition, mocktails and cocktails created by mixologist, Alicia Scott, and local brewery Alarmist Brewing will be sponsoring the event with a small selection of their craft beers. All guests will receive a bag of freshly roasted coffee to go.
Steph & Chef Friends' Beard Brunch
Sunday, June 9th, 2024: 11:00 am - Onward
Girl & the Goat - 809 W. Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60607
Stephanie Izard alongside Lee Anne Wong, Christina Nguyen, Elizabeth Falkner, and Karen Akunowicz, will host a special brunch. A dish from each chef while supporting the James Beard Foundation's Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Program. Cocktails, beer, and wine will be available for a la carte purchase. Brunch will be a ticketed, family-style event with communal seating.
West Loop’s Sunday Brunch @ Nobu’s Rooftop
Sunday, June 9th, 2024: 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Nobu Chicago Rooftop - 155 N. Peoria Street, Chicago, IL 60607
Nobu will host a Sunday Brunch soiree at The Rooftop, the restaurant and lounge on the 11th floor of Nobu Hotel Chicago. Attendees will be served reception-style Nobu brunch bites and crafted cocktails.
JBF Greens x Mi Tocaya Antojería
Sunday, June 9th, 2024: 12:00pm - 2:30pm
Mi Tocaya Antojería - 2800 W. Lohan Blvd., Chicago IL 60647
Mi Tocaya Antojería will host JBF Greens and open for brunch so that the James Beard Foundation Greens community (and friends!) can ring in the 2024 Awards. Translated to mean "my namesake" in Spanish, Mi Tocaya highlights chef — and James Beard Award nominee — Diana Dávila's mission to reshape Mexican cuisine. For the occasion, chef Diana will prepare a 3-course brunch that provides traditional favorites as well as lesser-known regional specialties inspired by her summers traveling through Mexico.
Up South
Sunday, June 9th, 2024: 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Justice of the Pies - 8655 S Blackstone, Chicago, IL 60619
Chef Maya-Camille Broussard, 2022 James Beard Award nominee for Outstanding Baker, Chef Serigne Mbaye, 2024 James Beard Award nominee for Best New Restaurant, Chef Adrienne Cheatham, 2023 James Beard Media Award nominated author of Sunday Best, and Chef Fariyal Abdullahi, 2024 James Beard Award nominee for Emerging Chef, will celebrate culinary brilliance on the South Side of Chicago. The UP SOUTH pop-up will feature offerings laced with Southern influences while retaining the spirit of the greater Black diaspora. Live music and terrace seating will be available at Justice of the Pies, in the center of Avalon Park on Chicago’s South Side.
The Rise and Impact of Chef Civic Leadership – A Panel Hosted by Chicago Chefs Cook
Sunday, June 9th, 2024: 1:15 pm - 2:15 pm
Kendall College at National Louis University - 18 S Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60603
Panelists include:
Rick Bayless, Frontera, Xoco, Bar Sótano & More, Top Chef, Founder of Green City Market & Frontera Farmer Foundation, Seven-Time James Beard Award Winner
Matthias Merges, Folk Art Management; 2013 James Beard Award Semifinalist – Best Chef: Great Lakes
Erick Williams, Virtue; 2022 James Beard Award Winner, Best Chef: Great Lakes
Culture x Food: Foodways — A Panel Hosted by the James Beard Foundation®
Sunday, June 9th, 2024: 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Kendall College at National Louis University - 18 S Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60603
Explore the ways chefs and restaurateurs express their respective heritage and culture on their menus and in their restaurants—and how they adapt their foodways to new environments. Throughout the session, panelists will share stories about their career paths as well as offer advice on honoring their culture in the restaurant kitchen. The panel will be moderated by Jamila Robinson, Editor-in-Chief, Bon Appétit, and James Beard Awards Emeritus Committee. Panelists include:
Fariyal Abdullahi, Hav & Mar; 2024 James Beard Award Nominee for Emerging Chef
Susan Bae, Moon Rabbit; 2024 James Beard Award Nominee for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker
Serigne Mbaye, Dakar NOLA; 2024 James Beard Award Nominee for Best New Restaurant Awards
Jenner Tomaska, Esmé; 2024 James Beard Award Nominee for Best Chef: Great Lakes Awards
It Takes a Village – A Panel Hosted by The Abundance Setting
Sunday, June 9th, 2024: 3:45 pm - 4:45 pm
Kendall College at National Louis University - 18 S Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60603
Beverly Kim will navigate us through the challenges and triumphs of balancing parenthood with a career in the demanding restaurant industry. Discover strategies for achieving work-life balance, nurturing family connections, and fostering a supportive community within the culinary world. Panelists include:
Ann Ahmed, Khâluna; 2024 James Beard Award Nominee for Best Chef: Midwest
Hamissi Mamba & Nadia Nijimbere, Baobab Fare; 2024 James Beard Awards Nominee for Best Chef: Great Lakes
Darnell Reed, Luella's Southern Kitchen; 2022 James Beard Nominee for Best Chef: Great Lakes
Queers at the Beards
Sunday, June 9th, 2024: 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Nobody’s Darling - 1744 W Balmoral Avenue, Chicago, IL 60640
Queers at Beards will host the only queer celebration of the James Beard Awards weekend. To honor LGBTQIA+ contributions to the culinary world during Pride month, they're hosting a Drag Day Party. Created and hosted by James Beard Award Leadership honoree Chef Mavis-Jay Sanders, join on June 9th, from 3 pm to 6 pm, at Nobody's Darling for a celebration of diversity, creativity, and inclusivity. Tickets include a 3-hour open bar, performances from 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm, and a dance party from 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm.
Gaijin Matsuri
Sunday, June 9th, 2024: 4:00 pm - 6:30 pm, 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Gaijin - 950 W. Lake Street, Chicago, IL 60607
Gaijin, Beam Suntory, and the Japanese Culture Center hosts an annual celebration of summer with unlimited food, drinks, city pop vinyl, and a Tsukasa Taiko drum performance. Tickets are available either from 4:00 - 6:30 p.m. or 7:00 - 9:30 p.m. and will include passed appetizers, hors d'oeuvres, Osaka-style okonomiyaki, mochi donuts, kakigori, Suntory cocktails & highballs, and -196 Vodka Seltzers. DJ Van Paugam will be in house all evening, and Tsukasa Taiko will perform at 5:30 pm & 7:30 pm.
James Beard Street Market at Lilac Tiger
Sunday, June 9th, 2024: 5:00 pm, 7:00 pm, 9:00 pm
Lilac Tiger – 1742 W. Division Street, Chicago, IL
Inspired by street markets and nightlife, this event will curate an array of 10 food stations, set up throughout Lilac Tiger, The Coach House, and the patio at Lilac Tiger, exploring traditional and modern South Asian street food. This event will also offer a deep-dive into South Asian cocktails, with a curated cocktail menu featuring Paul John Whiskies, Ming River Baijiu, and Mizu Shochu.
Barr Hill x The Violet Hour Takeover
Sunday, June 9th, 2024: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Violet Hour - 1520 N. Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
Chicago’s own James Beard Award-winning bar The Violet Hour will open its doors to 2024 James Beard Award Outstanding Bar nominee Barr Hill Cocktail Bar (Montpelier, VT) for a pop-up takeover in honor of the awards weekend. Guests can choose from a menu of creations from Barr Hill that highlight the sustainable distiller’s raw honey-based spirits alongside TVH classics and a collaborative cocktail crafted by both teams. Tickets include two drinks of your choice from the takeover menu, light passed bites, and a Barr Hill gift bag.
Vine-yl Night with High Street Hospitality Group and Middle Brow
Sunday, June 9th, 2024: 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Middle Brow - 2840 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
Join Vine-yl night where High Street Hospitality Group's team, from JBFA-winning Restaurateur Ellen Yin, joins forces with Middle Brow for a night of music, wine, and pizza. Featuring Middle Brow wines, a.kitchen's somm & DJ Frank Kinyon, High Street hoagies & Middle Brow pizza
Middle West x Cordelia
Tuesday, June 12th, 2024: 2:00 pm
Middle Brow - 2840 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
Middle Brow' will host chef Vinnie Cimino from Cordelia in Cleveland, OH on the patio with modern “granma food.”
Comments
View Comments (0 )
Never miss an eat.
Sign up for breaking news from the Chicago food scene.
Follow Us
Recommended Articles
Like us on Facebook for exclusive news and pictures from the Chicago Food Scene!