2024 StarChefs Chicago Rising Stars Awards
StarChefs returns to Chicago to celebrate the city’s most talented up-and-coming food and beverage professionals.
The 2024 Chicago Rising Stars Awards will be the 88th class of Award winners and the 7th class from Chicago.
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 more than 100 chefs, pastry chefs, bartenders, sommeliers, restaurateurs, and artisans, ultimately selecting a group of 18 to 25 professionals who best represent the future of American dining. Although Rising Stars Awards are given out locally, award winners are evaluated according to a set of national standards. Creativity, ambition, presentation, philosophy, and, most important, delicious food, drinks, and/or pairings win the designation of a StarChefs Rising Star.
For more information, visit the 2024 Chicago Rising Stars Awards event page.
2024 Chicago RISING STARS AWARD WINNERS
CHEFS
Chris Jung of Maxwells Trading
Nathan Kim of Obélix
Adam Meyer of Brasero
Zubair Mohajir of The Coach House, Lilac Tiger, and Mirra
Charles Wong of Umamicue
GAME CHANGER
Presented by S.Pellegrino
James Martin of Bocadillo Market
COMMUNITY
Presented by Resy
Margaret Pak of Thattu
PASTRY CHEFS
Presented by TCHO Chocolate
Kyra Farkas of Oriole
Erin Kobler of Proxi and Sepia
BAKER
Hannah Banaszak of Tilly Bagel Shop
RESTAURATEURS
Christina Chae and Zach Rivera of Golden Years, Moonflower, and Nightshade
BARTENDERS
Abe Vucekovich of Lardon, The Meadowlark, and Union
Nicole Yarovinsky of Daisies
SOMMELIERS
Jonas Bittencourt formerly of John’s Food and Wine
Thibaut Idenn of Alla Vita and BOKA
CONFECTIONER
Elle Lei of SUGOi Sweets
ROASTERS
Elmer Fajardo Pacheco and Lauren Reese of Anticonquista Café
MENTOR
Presented by Vitamix Commercial
Andrew Zimmerman of Sepia and Proxi
Chicago RISING STARS PARTNERS
Symrise, Steelite International, Vitamix Commercial, S.Pellegrino, Impossible Foods, Singer Equipment Company, Corto Olive Co., TCHO Chocolate, Vulcan, Resy, Niman Ranch, La Colombe, Seafood Scotland, Nielsen-Massey, Angostura Bitters, Lumina Lamb, Cheeses from Spain, Emmi Roth, Lone Mountain Wagyu, Chicago Winery, Careers Through Culinary Arts Program
