J.M. HIRSCH
AP Food Editor
The James Beard Foundation on Tuesday announced that its awards ceremony honoring the best chefs and restaurants is moving to Chicago after 24 years in New York City. It’s more proof that Chicago is home to one of the country’s hottest restaurant scenes. But who’s got the better eats?
Here’s a foodie smackdown between the Windy City and the Big Apple.
— MUST-GET (but you probably won’t) RESERVATION
Chicago: Grant Achatz’s Next
New York: David Chang’s Momofuku Ko
— VIRAL PASTRY
Chicago: Wonut (doughnut meets waffle) by Waffles Cafe
New York: Cronut (croissant meets doughnut) by Dominique Ansel Bakery
— MODERNIST MAESTRO CHEF
Chicago: Grant Achatz
New York: Wylie Dufresne
— PIZZA
Chicago: Deep-dish
New York: Thin crust.
— EPIC FOOD HALL TO BE GLUTTONOUS AT
Chicago: Chicago French Market
New York: Eataly
— FEMALE CHEF WITH ANIMAL-THEMED EATERY
Chicago: Stephanie Izard, Girl and the Goat
New York: April Bloomfield, The Spotted Pig
— HOT DOGS
Chicago: A walk through the garden — mustard, onions, pickle relish, dill pickle spear, tomatoes, pickled sport peppers and a dash of celery salt. And NEVER ketchup.
New York: Nathan’s in Coney Island, with mustard on a plain white bun.
— ODE TO FARM-TO-TABLE DINING
Chicago: Paul Kahan’s The Publican
New York: Dan Barber’s Blue Hill
— BAR SCENE TO BE SEEN AT
Chicago: Grant Achatz’ Aviary
New York: Wallflower
— HIPSTER FOODIE NEIGHBORHOOD
Chicago: Restaurant Row on Randolph Street in West Loop
New York: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
— TOP CHEF AWARDS (from the Beards, of course)
Chicago: Rick Bayless (1995), Charlie Trotter (1999), Grant Achatz (2008) and Paul Kahan (shared with New York’s David Chang in 2013)
New York: Larry Forgione (1993), Daniel Boulud (1994), Jean-George Vongerichten (1998), David Bouley (2000), Lidia Mattichio Bastianich (2002), Eric Ripert (2003), Mario Batali (2005), Alfred Portale (2006), Dan Barber (2009), Tom Colicchio (2010), Daniel Humm (2012), David Chang (shared with Chicago’s Paul Kahan in 2013)
— TOP RESTAURANT AWARDS (also from the Beards)
Chicago: Charlie Trotter’s (2000), Frontera Grill (2007)
New York: Bouley (1991), Le Cirque (1995), Union Square Cafe (1997), Le Bernardin (1998), The Four Seasons (1999), Gotham Bar & Grill (2002), Chanterelle (2004), Gramercy Tavern (2008), Jean-Georges (2009), Daniel (2010), Eleven Madison Park (2011), Blue Hill (2013)
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Associated Press Writer Caryn Rousseau contributed from Chicago.
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