And The Winners Are . . . Jean Banchet Awardees Revealed!

Acadia chef/owner Ryan McCaskey at the annual Banchet awards. (Photo: 312 Dining Diva)

The Jean Banchet awards—the highlight of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's annual Grand Chefs Gala—happened Friday. That's the most glorious time of the year for Chicago's culinary community as they honor the best in the biz.

Here are the winners (indicated by asterisk):

Chef of the Year

Ryan McCaskey, Acadia
Matthias Merges, Yusho*
Dan Pancake, Autre Monde
Andrew Zimmerman, Sepia

Pastry Chef of the Year

Sarah Jordan, BOKA*
Toni Roberts, theWit Hotel
Cindy Schuman, Sepia
Kady Yon, Pump Room at Public Chicago

Chef-de-Cuisine

Richie Farina, Moto
David Posey, Blackbird*
Jan Rickerl, Girl & the Goat
Carl Shelton, BOKA

Rising Chef

Chris Nugent, Goosefoot*
Iliana Regan, Elizabeth
Phil Rubino, Moderno
Dominic Zumpano, Market House on the Square

Rising Pastry Chef

Claire Crenshaw, Moto
Melissa Humphrey, Pastries Not Potatoes
Leigh Omilinsky, Café des Architectes*
Ben Walker, Renaissance Chicago

Best Sommelier

John Aranza, Autre Monde
Kevin Bratt, Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
Scott Harney, Eno
Jason Prah, Acadia*

Best Mixologist

Lynn House, Blackbird
Paul McGee, Three Dots and a Dash
Ben Schiller, BOKA*
Michael Simon, Carriage House

Best Restaurant

Acadia
Elizabeth
Girl & the Goat
Sepia*

Best Restaurant Service

Acadia
Alinea*
Autre Monde
Next

Best New Restaurant

Acadia*
Balena
Elizabeth
Yusho

Best Catering Company

Big Delicious Planet
Blue Plate
BOKA Catering*
Calihan