Jenner Tomaska of Esmé, Sujan Sarkar of Indienne, Anna Posey of Elske and Lula Cafe were announced as official James Beard Award Restaurant and Chef Award nominees in a ceremony in Washington, D.C., Wednesday morning. The four Chicago nominees compete in three categories and were selected from a longer list of semifinalists announced earlier this year.
The awards are considered by many the highest honor in food and hospitality and Chicago is an important center for the James Beard Foundation. For another year, the winners will be announced at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. The ceremony will take place June 10 in partnership with Choose Chicago and the Illinois Restaurant Association.
Last year, Chicago chefs won two James Beard Awards: Tim Flores and Genie Kwon of Kasama for Best Chef: Great Lakes and Damarr Brown of Virtue for Emerging Chef.
Though there were Chicago semifinalists in the Outstanding Chef, Outstanding Restaurant, Emerging Chef and Best New Restaurants categories this year, none were named nominees.
Chicago’s 2024 James Beard Award nominees:
Best Chef: Great Lakes
In the Best Chef: Great Lakes category, two Chicago chefs are competing out of five possible spots, the same number as last year. Historically, Chicago has dominated this category, winning almost every year for over a decade and frequently holding the majority of the nominations.
Sujan Sarkar of Indienne: Chef Sujan Sarkar offers “progressive Indian fine dining” at River North’s Indienne since 2022. The restaurant was awarded one Michelin Star in 2023. Sarkar originally came to Chicago in 2019 after opening Rooh in the West Loop. Indienne offers tasting menus that accommodate a variety of diets, including non-vegetarian, vegetarian, vegan and pescatarian options.
217 W. Huron St., 312-291-9427, indiennechicago.com
Jenner Tomaska of Esmé: Jenner Tomaska opened Lincoln Park’s Esmé in 2021 with his wife Katrina Bravo. The fine dining restaurant has a spacious dining area and incorporates art into its nearly three-hour tasting menu. Previous dishes include a table-smoked Dover sole and a gargantuan take on a Cheeto. Esmé also has a Michelin Star.
2200 N. Clark St., esmechicago.com
Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker
Anna Posey of Elske: West Loop’s Elske has been nominated for various James Beard Awards since it opened in 2016 and this year they’re being recognized for chef Anna Posey’s pastry selections. The restaurant cites American, Scandinavian and Danish influences with a focus on local ingredients. Desserts at Elske include frozen sea buckthorn with coffee-soaked sponge cake and gjetost, and milk chocolate custard with feuilletine, black garlic caramel and salted blueberry. Elske also has a Michelin Star.
1350 W. Randolph St., 312-733-1314, elskerestaurant.com
Outstanding Hospitality
This category recognizes restaurants that act as a “beacon for the community” through their hospitality, leadership and contributions.
Lula Cafe: By far the oldest Chicago restaurant on this list, Lula Cafe has grown from its humble roots to a Logan Square institution. Run by Jason Hammel and co-founder Amalea Tshilds for 25 years, the cafe focuses on community. Since the pandemic, Lula has been providing 150 free meals every Thursday in partnership with Raise High Road Kitchens and Community Dinners Avondale. Diners at Lula can support the endeavor by purchasing a meal in advance. Chef Hammel was previously nominated twice for a Beard Award in the Best Chef: Great Lakes category.
2537 N. Kedzie Blvd., 773-489-9554, lulacafe.com
See the full list of nominees on the James Beard Foundation’s website.
