Once again our local chefs and restaurants are getting noticed from on high. Four of them have been named as finalists in the 2025 James Beard Foundation Awards. This is a big deal — the Gail Ciampa ProJo article made the front page of the paper, top of the fold. In no particular order:
Oberlin — Outstanding Restaurant: National. Owners: Ben Sukle and Bethany Caliaro.
Nicks on Broadway — Best Chef: Northeast. Chef/owner Derek Wagner.
Gift Horse — Best Chef: Northeast. Chef Sky Haneul Kim. (See photograph.)
Nimki — Emerging Chef: National. Chef Nikhil Naiker.
Chef Naiker is from Fiji and he basically started running this pop-up thing and then they wouldn’t let him stop. Ciampa describes it thus: “He has his residency at 51 Courtland St. within the speakeasy The Courtland Club. His kitchen is barely larger than a closet, but he makes magic there.” The Courtland Club website refers to it as their “food program.”
And we note that Ben Sukle and Derek Wagner are both Johnson & Wales graduates. The contributions of this institution to the cultural life of the city cannot be overstated.
All these nominees have received nominations before in one category or another. The winners will be announced at a ceremony on Monday, June 16, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago and will be broadcast live on Eater.
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