A Suburban Stalwart Highlights 2019 Jean Banchet Award Winners

George Trois and Jason Hammel Win Top Jean Banchet Awards

Winnetka fine-dining French restaurant George Trois and Lula Cafe and Marisol chef Jason Hammel were the big winners of the 2019 Jean Banchet Awards, which took place Sunday night in the South Loop. The Restaurant of the Year win was redemption for George Trois, which many people felt deserved a Michelin star in 2019 before it was revealed that the tire company doesn’t award stars to suburban Chicago restaurants anymore. In addition to Hammel’s Chef of the Year win, the other winners were Alisha Elenz of mfk for Rising Star Chef of the Year, S.K.Y. for Best New Restaurant, Ryan Pfeiffer of Blackbird for Best Chef-de-Cuisine, Nicole Guini of Blackbird and Avec for Pastry Chef of the Year, Elaine Townsend of Fat Rice for Rising Pastry Chef of the Year, Pizzeria Bebu for Best Neighborhood Restaurant, A Place By DAMAO for Best Heritage Restaurant, Pacific Standard Time for Best Design, Jill Gubesch of Frontera Grill and Topolobampo for Best Sommelier, Stephanie Andrews of Billy Sunday for Best Mixologist, Temporis for Best Service, Calumet Fisheries for Best Counter Service, and Moody Tongue Brewery for Best Bar. Crain’s first reported the winners.

No contender successfully kicked a field goal at Goose Island

Hundreds of people showed up over the weekend to Goose Island’s field goal challenge outside the Fulton Street brewery. But none of the 100 contenders successfully made a 43-yard try — the same distance that Bears kicker Cody Parkey had tipped and caromed off the goalposts in the playoff game against the Eagles — so Goose Island donated $20,000 to the Lurie Children’s Hospital in Parkey’s honor. The Sun-Times has a video montage of the kickers.

Portillo’s Facebook page posts sex article after hack

The Facebook page for Portillo’s on Friday morning posted a sex article which led to many people having fun at the Chicago hot dog icon’s expense, Block Club reports. The article, titled “10 Things Women Love In Bed But Are Too Afraid To Ask For,” was posted by “an unauthorized outside source,” a Portillo’s rep says. It was reportedly only up for 10-15 minutes.

Quiote staff to host tasting menu dinners

And finally, acclaimed Logan Square Mexican restaurant and cocktail bar Quiote will launch a series of tasting menu dinners on Wednesday. Named “Off the Record Test Kitchen,” the dinners are run by the restaurant’s under-the-radar kitchen staff. More information and reservations are available on Quiote’s website.