James Beard weekend in Chicago is unmatched
It's time for the country's top culinary talent to head to the Windy City to celebrate the industry in high style. Mark your calendars to plan your outings.
My favorite weekend in Chicago is upon us.
The James Beard Foundation Awards ceremony occurs Monday, June 5, but the festivities leading up to the event are where the real fun happens. With restaurant industry leaders, A-list celebrities, television personalities and more in town, there’s no telling who you will run into if you’re out and about. Not since 2019 have we seen such an influx of festivities.
On the real, some of the best events are invitation only; nevertheless, there are a host of happenings open to the public certain to have high-profile folks in attendance. Here, I’ve compiled some of the best bets:
Friday, June 2
A Welcome to Chicago Concert
Time: 8-10pm
Location: Judson & Moore Distillery, 3057 N. Rockwell St.
Admission: Purchase the $25 distillery tour tickets here.
Get a taste of emerging foodie neighborhood Avondale at Judson & Moore Distillery’s event showcasing local food and music. The Welcome to Chicago party includes live music from Michelle Billingsley, dancing, a distillery tour at 4pm, plus tacos from award-winning favorite Big Star. Cocktails and bites will be available for purchase.
Saturday, June 3
Book Signing and Special Brunch Menu Items
Time: 11am-2pm
Location: Big Jones, 5347 N. Clark St.
Admission: Make reservations on Tock.
Diners may order from this outstanding Southern-focused restaurant’s regular brunch menu as well as a few special items from Cynthia Graubart’s new book, Zucchini Love. The acclaimed chef and James Beard award-winning author—and Chair of the James Beard Awards Broadcast Committee—will be in attendance and sign books, which will be for sale. Guests will have an opportunity to ask questions, and expect Graubart to offer plenty of valuable cooking tips.
Pizzeria Beddia Pop-Up
Time: noon-3pm
Location: RPM Events, 317 N. Clark St.
Admission: Purchase the $95 tickets here.
Proving that Philly has more to offer than cheesesteaks, Pizzeria Beddia was named Best Pizza in America by Bon Appetit in 2015. So, how cool is it that owner Joe Beddia is doing a pop-up event during Beard weekend? The menu includes family-style, signature starters such as Cantabrian anchovies, plus a variety of signature pies and soft serve for dessert. Each course will be paired with wines selected by the award-winning RPM sommelier team. RPM Events offers beautiful views of the Chicago River.
COFFEE TALK: An Industry Roundtable on Mental Health in Hospitality moderated by Andrew Zimmern of Bizarre Foods
Time: 1-2:30pm
Location: Sparrow Coffee Roastery, 2040 W. Fulton St.
Admission: Free with RSVP at RSVPChi@h2publicrelations.com.
Hope for The Day, a nonprofit organization empowering the conversation on proactive suicide prevention, joins Chris & Megan Curren of The Graceful Ordinary to present an essential roundtable discussion on the importance of mental health in the hospitality space. The interactive event will be moderated by Andrew Zimmern, Emmy and four-time James Beard Award-winning TV personality and host of the Emmy-nominated series, “Family Dinner” on Magnolia network. There will also be a reception featuring a tasting of some of Sparrow’s rare and exotic blends, plus light bites from chef Curren and The Graceful Ordinary. He will be joined by an all-star panel of local experts sharing their experiences within the industry. They include Genie Kwon and Tim Flores (Kasama, JBF Finalist Best Chef Great Lakes 2023); Curtis Duffy (Ever, After, The Canvas, JBF Winner Best Chef Great Lakes 2016; recipient: Michelin 2 stars – Ever); Dominique Leach (Lexington Betty Smokehouse); and Jason Vincent (Giant, Chef’s Special Cocktail Bar, JBF Finalist Outstanding Chef 2022).
Beef & Bandidos
Time: 3:30–6pm
Location: Al’s #1 Italian Beef, 1079 W. Taylor St.
Admission: Purchase the $45 ticket here.
Get a taste of old-school Chicago with one of the city’s most iconic dishes—the Italian beef. Al’s Beef, credited with creating the juicy sandwich in 1917, is partnering with El Bandido Yankee Tequila co-founder NHL Hall-of-Famer Chris Chelios and the family that owns and operates Mario’s Italian Lemonade for this afternoon delight. The menu will include Italian beef, specialty tequila-infused cocktails, tequila-spiked lemonade from Mario’s and gift bags with one-of-a-kind Chicago collectibles.
Sunday, June 4
Get Roasted: Brew and Brunch Roasting Tour with Big Shoulders Coffee
Time: 10am–noon
Location: Big Shoulders Coffee Roasting Works, 2415 W. 19th St.
Admission: The $25 tickets may be purchased here.
Journey through the world of specialty coffee through the eyes of Big Shoulders’ co-founders Patricia Coonan and Chef Tim Coonan. The event will be a fluid, roam-as-you-please setup to feature fresh coffee and homemade brunch, live-roasting demonstrations, a micro-lot pour-over station, an espresso bar with latte art exhibition, spirit-free coffee cocktails, draft cold brew and sparkling creations, craft beer from Alarmist Brewing and mimosas. All guests will receive a bag of freshly roasted coffee to go.
A Culinary Crawl through Logan Square
Time: All day until late night
Locations: Vary
Admission: No tickets or RSVP are required, though reservations at Andros Taverna and Second Generation are recommended to guarantee seating.
This is the second-annual food enthusiast crawl through the hip, Northwest side neighborhood. Doug Psaltis and Hsing Chen of Eat Well Hospitality are behind the event, which includes kicking off the day with brunch at Andros Taverna, then touring the Logan Square Farmers Market, Bang Bang Pie, Pretty Cool Ice Cream, Second Generation, Spilt Milk and The Meadowlark for drinks, desserts, bites and more.
SUNDAY SEISIÚN with The Dawson & The Dead Rabbit
Time: 4-9pm
Location: The Dawson, 730 W. Grand Ave.
Admission: Make a reservation.
It’s a New York takeover with World’s Best Bar winner The Dead Rabbit for a night of cocktails, Irish fare, live music and more with what should be one of the most memorable pop-up events of the season. What’s also great is that $1 from each specialty cocktail sold will directly benefit the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.
Gaijin Matsuri
Time: 5:30-10pm
Location: Gaijin, 950 W. Lake St.
Admission: RSVP for the free event at madelaine@mkgpr.com
The sleek, Japanese-inspired eatery will play host to this special event that includes music, cocktails and food curated by Gaijin, Beam Suntory and the Japanese Arts Foundation.
JBF Greens x Frontier: 2023 Awards Weekend Happy Hour
Time: 6-8pm
Location: Frontier, 1072 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Admission: The $45 ticket may be purchased here.
Yet another cool way to spend your Sunday evening is hanging out with Chef Jup, who owns Frontier as well as Ina Mae Tavern and Jup’s Soups, at this casual cocktail party on his enclosed patio. He will create a selection of hunted, farmed, foraged and harvested bites inspired by what generations of pioneers ate and hunted on the trail. Seventy percent of each ticket price will go directly to the host chef to support his business while 30% will go towards the James Beard Foundation’s national programming that is rooted in advocacy, racial equity, sustainability and women’s leadership for the culinary industry.
V.I.P. Takeover of Bernard's at the Waldorf Astoria Chicago
Time: 7pm-until
Location: Waldorf Astoria Chicago, Bernard's, 11 E. Walton St.
Admission: Free with no RSVP; food and beverages for purchase
Notable bar stars from Proof & Company are promising to shake up the routine at Bernard’s, the chic little cocktail lounge tucked inside the Waldorf Astoria on the Gold Coast. Expect signature cocktails to accompany the menu’s bar bites.
Monday, June 5
JBF Cocktail for a Cause at Bar Mar by José Andrés
Time: 11am–11pm
Location: Bar Mar, 120 N. Upper Wacker Dr.
Admission: Free
Those heading over to the awards ceremony should drop by Bar Mar for a pre-game cocktail. It’s only a block away from the official venue, Lyric Opera Chicago. In a show of commitment to the James Beard Foundation Awards, the bar will donate a portion of proceeds from each Salt Air Margarita sold to the JBF Women's Leadership Fund.
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This is FANTASTIC.
An absolutely fantastic list of events! Thank you!