Marking its 35th anniversary, the James Beard Foundation kicked off the 2025 awards season Wednesday morning with its “long list” of 2025 semifinalists, announcing 22 restaurants, bars, chefs and hospitality professionals from Chicago in the running for one of the prestigious awards. named after the famous pioneer chef. The 2025 gala will take place at the Lyric Opera in June, with the city also celebrating more than a decade of hosting the prestigious awards ceremony.
(* denotes a repeat candidate from previous years)
Exceptional restaurateur
*Brian Jupiter and Aaron Torricelli, Frontier and Ina Mae Tavern (Pioneer Tavern Group)
Exceptional chef
*Lee Wolen, Boka
Exceptional restaurant
Galit
Emerging chef
Jacob Potashnick, Field
Best New Restaurant
Carino
Exceptional pastry chef or baker
Leigh Omilinsky, Daisies
Exceptional wine and other drinks program
*Elske
Exceptional bar
Kumiko
Best new bar
Kisses
Truce
Outstanding Beverage Service Professional
Thomas Kakalios, Asador Bastian
*Marika Josephson and Aaron Kleidon, Scratch Brewing (Ava, IL)
Outstanding cocktail service professional
Christopher Marty, Best Intentions
Best Chef: Great Lakes
Marcos Ascenio, Mariscos San Pedro
*Thai Dang, HaiSous
*Diana Davila, Mi Tocaya Antojeria
Bo Fowler, BiXi beer
*Joe Frillman, Daisies
*Chris Jung and Erling Wu-Bower, Maxwells Trading
Lamar Moore, etc.
*Noah Sandoval, Oriole
*Sujan Sarkar, Indian
Zeeshan Shah and Yoshi Yamada, Superkhana International
This list of semi-finalists reflects the restaurant and chef categories; finalists in these categories will be announced on April 2. Winners will be recognized at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards on Monday, June 16 at the Lyric Opera in Chicago.
Disclosure: Some Vox Media staff members are part of the voting body for the James Beard Awards.
