Banchet Awards 2027 Finalists Named as Chicago Honors Its Chefs

Two men stand before glass fronted cabinets of dry aging beef, and one of them is caught mid hug. A man in glasses and a camel coat holds a colleague close. Another man looks on, smiling. The moment comes from the announcement of the Banchet Awards 2027 Finalists in Chicago.

The man in glasses is Michael Muser, Executive Director of the Banchet Foundation. On Tuesday, he visited restaurants to deliver the news in person. At Asador Bastian, he embraced Hsing Chen while Doug Psaltis looked on. The River North steakhouse is up for Restaurant of the Year.

Who Made the Banchet Awards 2027 Finalists List

The finalists were announced on Wednesday morning. The list of Banchet Awards nominees stretches from casual spots to fine dining rooms. It includes the Mayfair taco trailer No Pasa Nada and Albany Park's Noodles Party. It also includes Avec, a fine dining destination.

The Chicago Banchet Awards are now in their 25th year. They are named for Jean Banchet. He ran Le Francais in Wheeling in the 1970s and 1980s. His work helped raise Chicago's culinary profile.

The awards are the city's top local food honor. They cover many categories, from Best Heritage Restaurant to Rising Chef of the Year. That breadth is the point of the whole exercise.

The Race for Restaurant of the Year

The contest for Restaurant of the Year Chicago has four names. They are Asador Bastian, Brasero, Cellar Door Provisions and Maxwells Trading. Brasero carries a story of its own. Its chef John Manion was named Chef of the Year at last year's ceremony.

Psaltis, the chef owner of Asador Bastian, took the news with humility. "I know we're amongst great company," he said. He then made a larger point. "Being included in the best restaurants in Chicago is being included in the best restaurants in the country."

The remark matters because Chicago's dining scene rarely needs an outside verdict. Psaltis suggests the city's own list already carries national weight. That is a bold claim, and it explains why these Chicago restaurants finalists care so much.

Chefs, Newcomers and Hospitality

The Chef of the Year Chicago category has four entries. Adam McFarland and Tom Rogers of John's Food & Wine share one. Jenner Tomaska of Esmé, Petite Edith and The Alston is another. Zachary Engel of Galit and Cafe Yaya is a third. Zubair Mohajir completes the group.

These Chicago chefs finalists sit beside a fresh class of openings. The Best New Restaurant Chicago category includes All Well, Creepies, Petite Edith and The Greggory. Creepies in the West Loop is up for two awards. It is also named for Rising Chef of the Year through Tayler Ploshehanski.

On Tuesday, Muser stopped at Creepies. He met chef owner David Posey and Chef De Cuisine Ploshehanski. The other Rising Chef of the Year nominees are Alex Ching of Bonyeon, Alex Cochran of Cellar Door Provisions and Devin Denzer of Atsumeru.

Service is honoured too. The Best Hospitality Chicago nominees are Anelya, Brindille, Obélix and Perilla Fare. At Perilla Fare in West Town, executive chef Andrew Lim and Thomas Oh, director of operations and sommelier, held up their certificate. The Best Counter Service Chicago list features Chomp Pizza, Seedo's Levantine Bakery, No Pasa Nada and Turkish Doner.

Why the Banchets Look Local

Muser described the purpose plainly. The goal, he said, is to celebrate the breadth of the local food scene. That includes places sometimes overlooked by national awards. "These are not restaurants that get recognized by organizations," he said.

He explained the role of a local prize. "We're local enough to be able to throw some light on them," Muser said. The line matters because it names a gap. National lists often skip counters, trailers and neighbourhood rooms. A city award can fill it.

The timing is notable. The James Beard Awards are considering a future outside Chicago. Meanwhile, the Banchets are growing as a recently formed nonprofit. They plan more year round programming to train and highlight local talent.

Honours Beyond the Ballot

The ceremony will also give special awards. Chef Paul Kahan will receive the 2027 Culinary Excellence Award. Manny's Cafeteria & Delicatessen will receive the 2027 Iconic Restaurant Award. Chef Sarah Stegner of Prairie Grass Cafe will receive the inaugural Environmental Leadership Award.

Stegner welcomed the new prize. "I'm thrilled that The Banchets has created an award recognizing environmental leadership in our industry," she said. She added that chefs "have a real opportunity to make a difference." That difference comes through farmers, ingredients and the way restaurants operate.

A Fair Reading of the Shortlist

A balanced view helps here. According to Muser, an anonymous committee of dedicated foodies selects the finalists. The public does not see how they chose. Readers should treat the list as one committee's judgement, not a final ranking.

Still, the shortlist is broad and specific. It shows a city that values many kinds of restaurants. Elsewhere, hospitality news also turns on how a new venue is announced, as in Nando's confirmed plan for a Waterford restaurant.

Where the Winners Will Stand

Winners will be announced at a ceremony on Jan. 31. It will take place at the Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph St. The event moves from Venue SIX10 in the Loop to a considerably larger space. That growth says something about the awards.

Before then, there is only waiting. Cooks will keep working, and certificates will sit on shelves. Perhaps that is what the hug in the photograph really shows. For a moment, someone tells a kitchen its work was seen. The Banchet Awards 2027 Finalists get to carry that feeling into winter.

Find out more on the official website: https://thebanchetawards.com/