James Beard Foundation Awards in Chicago

The James Beard Foundation Award ceremony is a sought out culinary event. This event will celebrate top chefs, restauranteurs, and authors in the food industry. James Beard Foundation’s mission is to recognize exceptional talent in the culinary arts. This year, the James Beard Awards ceremony will take place in Chicago.

The food event will take place on Monday, June 13. To enter the award ceremony, you must have submitted an application or recommendation between October 12, 2021, and November 30, 2021. Every year we see new culinary innovations and cooking breakthroughs. The James Beard Foundation focuses on these concepts in the food industry, emphasizing talent, equity, and sustainability.

James Beard Foundation Book Awards

See which books made it on the James Beard Foundation Cookbook Hall of Fame. This year, the JBF awards will commit to highlighting individuals who express racial and gender equality. The Chef Awards Committee will choose five winners. Below is the list of previous winners of the James Beard Foundation Awards.

• The Whole Fish Cookbook – Josh Niland
• Cocktail Codex – Alex Day
• The Cooking Gene – Michael Twitty
• Victuals – Ronni Lundy
• Zahav – A World of Israeli Cooking
• Yucatan – David Sterling
• Historic Heston – Heston Blumenthal
• Gran Cocina Latina – Maricel Presilla

James Beard Foundation: Stories of Resilience and Leadership

The 2021 celebration of a James Beard Foundation segment named “Stories of Resilience and Leadership” proved popular. The Awards saluted the restaurant community for upbringing fantastic talent to the food scene. Leaders in the culinary space came together during COVID-19 and inspired many restauranteurs on what’s possible, given any situation.

You may watch the 2021 James Beard Foundation Awards below.

2022 James Beard Foundation Awards Sponsors 

James Beard Foundation allowed some sponsors to fund the awards to make this event possible. One of the largest sponsors of the foundation awards is Capital One. James Beard Awards are also in association with O’hare & Midway international airports. American Airlines and Windstar cruises are also a part of the team of sponsors. This culinary event continues to attract many foodies and chefs, and it’s no wonder why James Beard will host this year’s event in Chicago. 

The History Behind James Beard Awards

Have you ever wondered how James Beard Awards came about? Well, many will find it interesting how the James Beard Foundation Awards became the food industry’s highest honor. Established in 1990, the awards the first ceremony took place in 1991. Led by top chef magazines and restaurant business owners, James Beard promoted America’s food culture by showcasing top talent. 

At one point, Time magazine called the James Beard Awards “the Oscars of the food world”. It makes sense now why the foundation receives thousands of submissions every year. Winners receive medallions, certificates, and recognition on the official website. The main categories for the Awards are Restaurant, Chef, Books, Journalism, Broadcast, and Leadership. Learn how to enter by visiting their open calls below.