It's hard to believe that the 2020 James Beard Awards Gala was scheduled to take place tonight at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Culinary greats from around the country would have been gathering in the Loop, and some of the city's best restaurants would have been preparing for epic afterparties.
The foodie award show has been rescheduled for September 25, but that didn't stop the James Beard Foundation from showing the nation's top restaurants some much needed love during an incredibly difficult time. Instead of announcing this year's winners, the foundation instead released a roster of final nominees, whittling down the long list of semifinalists. Included on the lineup are eight Chicago names, including Lost Lake for Outstanding Bar Program and Spiaggia for Outstanding Wine Program.
"It was clear that those whose work in 2019 led them to be selected as a semifinalist—and perhaps ultimately a nominee or a winner—deserved the recognition they earned," wrote the foundation's chief strategy officer Mitchell Davis in a post explaining the change of events. "Those we consulted felt the Awards could also offer a glimmer of hope to an industry looking for light in a very dark time."
Take a look at the Chicago chefs and restaurants that are still in the running below:
Outstanding Bar Program
Lost Lake
Outstanding Wine Program
Spiaggia
Best Chef: Great Lakes
Jason Hammel, Lula Cafe
Gene Kato, Momotaro
Noah Sandoval, Oriole
John Shields and Karen Urie Shields, Smyth
Erick Williams, Virtue
Lee Wolen, Boka
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