5 Chicago Chefs, Restaurants Make The Cut As James Beard Finalists

ILLINOIS — The culinary scene in Illinois is well-represented in the 2023 Restaurant and Chef Awards nominees announced Wednesday by the James Beard Foundation.

Illinois finalists are:

Obelix, Chicago: Best New Restaurant

Damarr Brown, Virtue, Chicago: Best Emerging Chef

Sepia, Chicago: Outstanding Hospitality

Tim Fores and Genie Kwon, Kasama, Chicago: Best Chef, Great Lakes Region

The James Beard Awards, first presented in 1991, recognize exceptional talent in the culinary and food media industries and are often regarded as the “Oscars of culinary arts.” They recognize a range of experiences, from fine-dining restaurants to casual gems, in 23 categories.

“The James Beard Awards celebrate outstanding achievement and exceptional culinary talent, as well as all those doing incredible work on behalf of our communities and wider food system. This year’s nominees, winners, and honorees are inspiring exemplars of that,” said Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation.

“We congratulate all those recognized today and look forward to celebrating them at another exciting Awards Weekend in Chicago this June.”

Winners will be announced June 5 in a ceremony at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.