Monteverde, Proxi Highlight Chicago’s 2018 Jean Banchet Award Winners

Monteverde, Proxi, and Proxi chef Andrew Zimmerman were the big winners at the 2018 edition of Chicago’s preeminent restaurant awards. The 2018 Jean Banchet Awards ceremony came and went on Sunday evening, where more than 400 of Chicago’s restaurant industry finest gathered at Venue Six10 in the South Loop to take in the winner announcements and celebrate them. Two staffers from Sixteen were also winners.

Monteverde, Sarah Grueneberg’s Italian restaurant in the West Loop that’s already a 2016 Eater Award-winner for restaurant of the year, took home the restaurant of the year honor at the Jean Banchets. Zimmerman took home the chef of the year award for both Sepia and the hotspot Proxi, which also won the restaurant design of the year award. Other winners include Nick Dostal of Sixteen for rising chef of the year, Anna Posey of Elske as pastry chef of the year, and Smyth as best new restaurant.

Check out the full list of nominees and winners below.

Restaurant of the Year: Monteverde, The Publican, Sixteen, Vie. WINNER: Monteverde.

Chef of the Year: Sarah Grueneberg (Monteverde), Noah Sandoval (Oriole), John Shields (Smyth and The Loyalist), Andrew Zimmerman (Sepia, Proxi). WINNER: Andrew Zimmerman.

Rising Chef of the Year: Diana Dávila (Mi Tocaya), Nick Dostal (Sixteen), Brian Fisher (Entente), Sam Plotnick and Don Young (Temporis). WINNER: Nick Dostal.

Best Chef-de-Cuisine: Ross Henke (Quiote), Joel Heseman (The Bristol), Bill Montagne (Nico Osteria), Sarah Rinkavage (Lula Cafe, Marisol). WINNER: Bill Montagne.

Pastry Chef of the Year: Mari Katsumura (Entente), Genie Kwon (Oriole), Greg Mosko (NoMI Kitchen), Anna Posey (Elske). WINNER: Anna Posey.

Rising Pastry Chef of the Year: Kyleen Atonson (Honey’s), Angelyne Canicosa (Vie), Maree Rogers (Momotaro), Evan Sheridan (Sixteen). WINNER: Kyleen Atonson. Note: She’s since moved on to Acadia.

Best Neighborhood Restaurant: Daisies, Le Bouchon, Old Irving Brewing Co., Osteria Langhe. WINNER: Daisies.

Best Ethnic Restaurant: HaiSous, Isla Pilipina, La Chaparrita, Ras Dashen. WINNER: Ras Dashen.

Best New Restaurant: Elske, Proxi, Quiote, Smyth. WINNER: Smyth.

Best Sommelier: Andrew Algren (Cherry Circle Room), Matty Colston (Parachute), Jill Gubesch (Frontera Grill, Topolobampo, Lena Brava, Cruz Blanca, XOCO, XOCO Bistro), Parag Lalit (Sixteen). WINNER: Parag Lalit.

Best Mixologist: Stephanie Andrews (Billy Sunday), Julieta Campos (The Whistler), Amit Gilad (GreenRiver), Joshua Novy (Homestead on the Roof). WINNER: Amit Gilad.

Best Restaurant Design: The Albert, Beatnik, Portsmith, Proxi. WINNER: Proxi.

Best Service: Acadia, Cherry Circle Room, Oriole, Sepia. WINNER: Oriole.

Best Bar: Best Intentions, Forbidden Root, Income Tax, Lost Lake. WINNER: Income Tax.