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STARCHEFS RISING STARS AWARDS PROGRAM

The StarChefs Rising Stars Awards celebrates up-and-coming industry professionals who represent the vanguard of the contemporary American dining scene. The selected professionals are recognized not only for their exceptional food and drink, but also their ability to navigate, lead, and inspire.

Rising Stars have strong, compelling philosophies, are able to see beyond the four walls of their restaurant, and are committed to fostering a community by sharing their knowledge with fellow professionals across the country.

Launched in 2003, the Rising Stars network now includes more than 1,500 alumni from the Florida Keys to Seattle. Explore our full list of Rising Stars alumni here.

StarChefs will be visiting Chicago, Charleston, Savannah, and New York in the coming months.
The Rising Stars Award Winners are designated by the StarChefs editorial team based on in-person tastings and interviews. In each market, the editorial team tastes and interviews with over 150 chefs, pastry chefs, bartenders, sommeliers, and artisans, ultimately selecting a group of 18 to 24 professionals that best represent the future of American dining. Though Rising Stars Awards are given out locally, Award Winners are evaluated according to a set of national standards. Creativity, ambition, presentation, philosophy and, most importantly, delicious food, cocktails and/or pairings win a professional the designation of a StarChefs Rising Star.
Rising Stars Magazine
The StarChefs team covers five American cities a year and curates the best of each to share with the restaurant industry. StarChefs’ print publication, Rising Stars magazine, delivers recipes, industry trends, business intel, beverage knowledge, new techniques, and a fresh dose of inspiration to professionals across the country.
Rising Stars Restaurant Week
StarChefs hosts a 15-day Rising Stars Restaurant Week in each market to generate media exposure for the award winners and drive revenue directly to their businesses. The Restaurant Week features the signature dishes, cocktails, and beverages that wowed the StarChefs team and won the individual the award.
Industry Events
StarChefs hosts a series of industry events in each market to celebrate the release of the magazine and to bring the restaurant community together. The Honorees Mentor Reception is the kick-off event to celebrate the award winners among their peers. StarChefs also hosts a blow-out Industry Late Night for teams across the city to catch up over food and drink. StarChefs events are community building at its best.
Please keep in mind that Rising Stars Award nominees should have fewer than 10 years of experience at a senior-level position (i.e. executive chef, beverage director, bar director). Chef de cuisines are eligible, as long as they exert at least 50% menu control. Sous chefs are not eligible. In a restaurant with a wine director/sommelier division, sommeliers are eligible as long as they are responsible for at least half of the buying.
If you’d like to nominate an industry professional in any of our upcoming markets, please fill out our Nomination Form.
2024 - Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Savannah/Charleston
2023 - New York City, Atlanta, Portland (OR), Coastal New England, Austin-San Antonio
2022 - D.C.-Chesapeake, Nashville, Denver, New Orleans, San Francisco-Oakland
2021 - Miami, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth
2020 - Seattle, Boston, New York
2019 - New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Houston
2018 - Atlanta, Portland, Chicago, D.C.-Chesapeake
2017 - New York, Colorado, Los Angeles, Austin
2016 - New Orleans, Miami, San Francisco, Rust Belt
2015 - New York, Boston, Chicago, Seattle
2014 - Kentucky/Tennessee, New England, Los Angeles, Washington DC
2013 - Philadelphia, New York, San Francisco, Carolinas
2012 - Austin, New Orleans, Atlanta, Hawaii
2011 - Houston, Chicago, New York, Portland
2010 - Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Washington DC
2009 - Seattle, Napa Valley, New York, Boston
2008 - Miami, Chicago, New York, Las Vegas
2007 - Dallas, San Francisco, New York, Atlanta
2006 - Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Washington DC
2005 - New York, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Chicago
2004 - Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Miami
2003 - Boston, Washington DC, New Orleans, Seattle

STARCHEFS RISING STARS MAGAZINE
The StarChefs Rising Stars magazine delivers recipes, industry trends, business intel, beverage knowledge, new techniques, and a fresh dose of culinary inspiration—whether you’ve been a reader since the late 90s or just started working the line. Our team covers five American cities a year and curates the best of each market to share with the restaurant industry. Subscribe today to receive the next five issues of the Rising Stars Magazine!