Awards Ceremonies

The 2024 James Beard Awards, presented by Capital One, taking place from June 8 to June 10, 2024, to celebrate exceptional talent and achievement in the culinary arts, hospitality, media, and broader food system.
 

Key Dates

Wednesday, April 3, 2024 
Restaurant and Chef Awards Nominee and Achievement Awards Honorees Announcement 
Waldorf Astoria Washington DC 
Invite-only

Saturday, June 8, 2024 
Media Awards Ceremony and Reception 
Columbia College Chicago Student Center
 
Sunday, June 9, 2024 
Leadership Awards Ceremony 
Invite-Only Luncheon 
 
Monday, June 10, 2024 
Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony and Reception 
Lyric Opera of Chicago 

 

Take a look at this year's featured cooking chefs here!

For more information on tickets to the 2024 Awards ceremonies, please email boxoffice@jamesbeard.org. 

 

Awards Panel Discussions

Under the Influence: How Dining Trends are Shaping Drink Choices
Saturday, June 8 
2:00 P.M. to 3:30 P.M. CT 
Biân - 600 W Chicago Ave Suite 001, Chicago, IL 
 

Leaders in restaurants, bars and hospitality, as well as beverage producers, will convene to talk about how dining trends, menu creation and consumption shape how consumers select their beverages.  

Host: Kevin Boehm, Chairman and Co-Founder, Biân; Co-CEO and Co-Founder, Boka Restaurant Group; 2019 James Beard Award Winner for Outstanding Restaurateur  

Co-hosts: Tahiirah Habibi and Richy Petrina, Awards Committee Members, James Beard Foundation 

Moderator: Rodney Williams, Trustee, James Beard Foundation and President, Diageo Beer Company 

Panelists include: 

  • Gregory Gourdet, Author, Chef and Owner, Kann; 2022 James Beard Book Award Winner; 2023 James Beard Award Winner for Best New Restaurant 
  • Lynnette Marrero, Co-founder, Speed Rack and Partner, Delola 
  • Julia Momosé, Partner and Creative Director, Kumiko; 2022 James Beard Book Award Winner 
  • Tia Polite, Sommelier, Indienne 
  • Aldo Sohm, Wine Director, Le Bernardin and Sohm Bar; 2009 James Beard Award Winner for Outstanding Wine Service
 
The Rise and Impact of Chef Civic Leadership – A  Panel Hosted by Chicago Chefs Cook 
Sunday, June 9 
1:15 P.M. to 2:15 P.M. CT
Kendall College - 18 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL  
 
 

Discover the transformative power of culinary leadership as chefs step into the forefront of local and global humanitarian activism. Learn how these culinary trailblazers use their platform to drive positive change, tackle social issues, and uplift communities in need both locally and abroad.              

Hosts:  

  • Sarah Stegner, Chef/Owner, Prairie Grass Café; 1994 James Beard Award Winner for Rising Star Chef and 1998 James Beard Award Winner for Best Chef: Great Lakes  
  • Chicago Chefs Cook                   

Moderator: Sarah Stegner 

Panelists include: 

  • Matthias Merges 
  • The LEE Initiative, 2024 James Beard Awards Humanitarian of the Year Award Honoree 
  • Erick Williams, Owner and Executive Chef, Virtue; 2022 James Beard Award Winner, Best Chef: Great Lakes 

 

  Culture x Food: Foodways – A Panel Hosted by the James Beard Foundation 
Sunday, June 9 
2:30 P.M. to 3:30 P.M. CT 
Kendall College - 18 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL
 

Explore the ways chefs and restaurateurs express their respective heritage and culture on their menus and in their restaurants—and how they adapt their foodways to new environments. Throughout the session, panelists will share stories about their career paths as well as offer advice on honoring your culture in the restaurant kitchen. 

Moderator: Jamila Robinson, Editor-in-Chief, Bon Appetit and Epicurious; James Beard Awards Emeritus Committee 

Panelists include: 

  • Fariyal Abdullahi, Hav & Mar; 2024 James Beard Award Nominee for Emerging Chef 
  • Susan Bae, Moon Rabbit; 2024 James Beard Award Nominee for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker  
  • Serigne Mbaye, Dakar NOLA; 2024 James Beard Award Nominee for Best New Restaurant Awards  
  • Jenner Tomaska, Esmé; 2024 James Beard Award Nominee for Best Chef: Great Lakes Awards 

 

It Takes a Village – A Panel Hosted by The Abundance Setting
Sunday, June 9 
3:45 P.M. to 4:45 P.M. CT 
Kendall College - 18 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL  
 

Beverly Kim will navigate us through the challenges and triumphs of balancing parenthood with a career in the demanding restaurant industry. Discover strategies for achieving work-life balance, nurturing family connections, and fostering a supportive community within the culinary world.   

Moderator: Beverly Kim, Founder, The Abundance Setting and Chef/Owner, Anelya and Parachute Hi Fi; 2019 James Beard Award Winner for Best Chef: Great Lakes  

Panelists include:  

  • Ann Ahmed, Khâluna; 2023 James Beard Award Nominee for Best Chef: Midwest 
  • Hamissi Mamba & Nadia Nijimbere, Baobab Fare; 2023 James Beard Awards Nominee for Best Chef: Great Lakes 
  • Darnell Reed, Luella's Southern Kitchen; 2022 James Beard Nominee for Best Chef: Great Lakes  
 
 
Advocacy Meet-Up - Hosted by the James Beard Foundation 
Monday, June 10 
10:00 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. CT 
Kendall College at National Louis University - 122 S Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL (2nd Floor Atrium) 
 

Whether you've been working on a compost program or higher wages for your community, advocating for SNAP expansion, the Justice for Black Farmers Act, or other Farm Bill efforts at the federal level, or needing some inspiration to better use your voice and platform for issues you care about, come share your advocacy stories—and questions—with friends and colleagues. This informal meet-up is an opportunity to share successes and challenges with others and be energized anew around the collective power of chefs, in a perfect combination of networking and action. While you'll hear more about JBF's Climate Solutions for Restaurant Survival campaign and ways to get involved in upcoming advocacy events from host Anne E. McBride, PhD, VP of Programs at JBF, you'll be the ones doing most of the talking, with the other chefs, operators, and experts in food justice and sustainability in attendance. No prior advocacy experience is needed, only a desire to work with others on making our industry and the food system more equitable and sustainable for all. 

Host:  Anne McBride, Ph.D, Vice President of Programs, James Beard Foundation 

 

 

 

Hotel Courtesy Block Information


The James Beard Foundation is pleased to offer discounted rates at the following properties.  
Please note, there is limited availability, so we recommend booking as early as possible.

Hilton Chicago 
720 South Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 922-4400
Website 

Availability 

  • Rooms are available Thursday, June 6, 2024 – Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at a rate of $209 + tax per night. 
  • Reservations must be made by Friday, May 17, 2024.

Booking Information 

  • To book your reservation online, please click this link, then select your travel dates and the proper discounted rate will appear.      
  • To book your reservation over the phone, please call (877) 865-5320 and request the group rate for “The James Beard Foundation”. You will receive an email from Passkey shortly, containing a link to your 'Event Dashboard' to view detailed information of the block at any time.

 

Airline Travel

American Airlines is proud to be the official airline of the James Beard Foundation.  Click here to book.