Jimmy Bannos, Scott Harris to Receive Founders' Award at Grand Chefs Gala Tonight

Taking place this evening at the Fairmont Chicago is one of Chicago's premier culinary events, the Grand Chefs Gala. The event, which is in its 15th year, benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and brings out some of the finest chefs in the city.

For the past eight years during the event, the Founders' Award has been presented to individuals who have significantly impacted lives in a charitable or humanitarian way. This year the honor goes to Jimmy Bannos (Heaven on Seven, Purple Pig) and Scott Harris (Francesca's, Davanti Enoteca) for their service and leadership to the Chicago community.

We are incredibly honored to receive this award," said Bannos and Harris in a joint statement, "There's nothing more important than giving back to the community in which we work and live."

The Founders' Award will be presented right before the Jean Banchet Awards for Culinary Excellence, which received a lot of buzz as they opened the nominations to the public for the first time this year. Categories include Chef of the Year, Best New Restaurant and Best Mixologist.