RIA/Balsan Chef Danny Grant Named a Food & Wine 2012 Best New Chef

As was speculated yesterday, Danny Grant was indeed named a Food & Wine 2012 Best New Chef. Grant, who oversees both RIA and Balsan at the former Elysian Hotel, now the Waldorf Astoria, has also earned two Michelin stars (the first year the restaurant got stars, he was working alongside chef Jason McLeod).

Grant is currently in New York at a celebration being thrown in the chefs' honor where veteran chefs like Daniel Boulud, Michael Anthony and George Mendes, who was honored last year, will prepare a meal. Grant joins the likes of Grant Achatz, Rick Bayless, Stephanie Izard, Koren Grieveson, Paul Kahan and Giuseppe Tentori who have all been named best new chef from Chicago. For a full list of this year's winner's, check out Eater National.