17th Annual Grand Chefs Gala

The Jean Banchet Awards For Culinary Excellence will be handed out during the 17th Annual Grand Chefs "Saint-Tropez" gala 6 p.m. to midnight Jan. 31 at the Fairmont, 200 N. Columbus. The Hotel transforms its ballrooms to the sunny, fun-loving town of Saint-Tropez, located on the French Riviera, for the occasion. Tickets start at $100.  Proceeds benefits Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The list of nominees are below. grandchefs

Curtis Duffy, Grace

Chef of the Year: Curtis Duffy (Grace); Carrie Nahabedian (NAHA); Paul Virant (Vie/Perennial Virant);
Andrew Zimmerman (Sepia)

Pastry Chef of the Year: Lisa Bonjour (mk); Craig Harzewski (NAHA); Elissa Narow (Vie/Perennial Virant); Leigh Omlinsky (Cafe des Architectes)

Best Chef de Cuisine: Ali Ratcliffe-Bauer (Brindille); Andres Padilla (Topolobampo); Sean Pharr (NoMi Kitchen); Nicholas Romero (Grace)

Rising Chef of the Year: Thai Dang (Embeya); Nicole Pederson (Found); Tom Van Lente (TWO); Lee Wolen (formerly of the Lobby at the Peninsula Hotel)

Rising Pastry Chef of the Year: Dana Cree (Blackbird); Sarah Mispagel (Nightwood); Thomas Raquel (Acadia); Bobby Schaffer (Grace)

Best Sommlier: Valerie Cao (Grace); Chad Ellegood (NoMi Kitchen); Richard Hanauer (The Langham); Arthur Hon (Sepia)

Best Mixologist: Charkles Joly (Aviary); Paul McGee (Three Dots and a Dash); Danielle Pizzutillo (Embeya); Sergio Serna (The Drawing Room)

Best Restaurant Design: Balena; Boarding House; Brindille; Embeya

Best Restaurant Service: Balena; Grace; Nightwood; Sixteen

Best New Restaurant: Fat Rice; Found; Gather; Travelle; TWO

Restaurant of the Year: Acadia; Brindille; Embeya; Grace