Two Chicago Nominees Bring Home 2025 James Beard Awards
Briefly

Chicago's restaurant scene shone at the Restaurant and Chef Awards Gala. Kumiko won Outstanding Bar, led by owner Julia Momosé, who shared a heartfelt acceptance speech emphasizing the bar's ethos and their immigrant roots. Chef Noah Sandoval of Oriole won Best Chef: Great Lakes but didn't attend due to mental health priorities. His absence still resonated with his anti-ICE message. The evening highlighted not only culinary achievements but also the ongoing challenges around immigration affecting many in the industry.
"Kumiko was born from a belief that hospitality could be quiet, precise, and powerful, that a bar could feel like a conversation," said owner Julia Momosé.
Momosé emphasized the importance of remembering their immigrant roots and said, "Even in celebration, I can't help but think about what's going on outside our industry."
Noah Sandoval noted he was not attending the awards for mental health reasons and ended his message with a strong statement: "Fuck ICE."
Read at Eater Chicago
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