(Chicago, Ill.) – The Chicago Culinary Museum and Chefs Hall of Fame is pleased to announce their tenth annual event featuring the induction of Chef Tony Mantuano for Chef of the Year, Chef Judy Contino for Pastry Chef of the Year, Chef J. Joho for Legendary Chef, Georges “Kiki” Cuisance as Industry Legend, and Steve Lombardo and Hugo Ralli both as Industry Leaders into the Chefs Hall of Fame for 2015.
These six culinary innovators, all steeped in Chicago’s epicurean history, will be formally inducted at an event open to the public which will serve as a gala fundraiser for the Chicago Culinary Museum. The Honorary Event Chair is Phil Stefani who was inducted into the Chefs Hall of Fame as an Industry Leader in 2014. The 2015 Chefs Hall of Fame event will take place at Crystal Gardens in Navy Pier located at 700 E. Grand in Chicago from 5:00pm to 9:30pm on Thursday, October 15, 2015.
This event will not only honor the inductees, it will also promote and celebrate Chicago's culinary preeminence and raise funds for the Chicago Culinary Museum. The evening will feature an open bar, wandering feast prepared by top local restaurants and past chef inductees, silent auction, raffle, and awards presentation. Tickets are now on sale for $80 per person in advance or $125 at the door, if available. Tickets may be purchased at www.brownpapertickets.com keywords: Chefs Hall of Fame.
Previous inductees into the Chefs Hall of Fame include the late Chef Charlie Trotter in 2006, Chef Jimmy Bannos in 2007, Chef Rick Bayless in 2008, Chef Carrie Nahabedian in 2009, Chef Art Smith in 2010, Chef Priscilla Satkoff in 2011, Chef Graham Elliot in 2012 with Chef Jacquy Pfeiffer, in 2013 Chef Paul Kahan, Chef Alain Roby, Richard Melman, Chef Hans Aeschbacher, the late Chef Jean Banchet, and the late Chef Louis Szathmary, and in 2014, Chef Stephanie Izard, Chef Gale Gand, Chef Michael Kornick, Phil Stefani, and Larry Levy.
About the 2015 Chefs Hall of Fame inductees:
Chef of the Year: Chef Tony Mantuano is a James Beard Award winner who has been on the ground floor of defining true Italian cuisine in the United States. In addition to his role as chef-partner at Spiaggia, Mantuano is the chef-partner at River Roast situated on the Chicago River, Bar Toma an Italian neighborhood pizzeria and bar, Terzo Piano a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant at The Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago, and he is the owner of Mangia Trattoria a classic Italian restaurant in his hometown of Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Pastry Chef of the Year: Chef Judy Contino took her first cooking position in 1983 as an assistant pastry chef at Ambria. She then moved on to become the pastry chef at Printer’s Row, only to return to Ambria in 1986 as the head pastry chef and become part of the team who garnered Ambria a coveted four star rating. Contino opened Bittersweet Pastry Shop and Café which specializes in the exquisite modeling of the Baker’s Art and has now been open over 20 years.
Legendary Chef: Chef J. Joho began his formal training as a 13-year-old apprentice for Paul Haeberlin of the acclaimed L'Auberge de L'Ill in Alsace, France and continued in kitchens in France, Italy and Switzerland. By the age of 23, Joho was the sous chef at a Michelin three-star restaurant where he commanded a 35 person staff. It was while he was studying at the Hotel Restaurant School in Strasbourg Joho immersed himself in the hotel and restaurant business, as well as the arts of pastry, cheese and wine. His rise to international success began on the 40th floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange with what is now one of the world's premier dining rooms, Everest, and most recently with Paris Club in River North.
Industry Legend: Georges “Kiki” Cuisance came to Chicago 50 years ago and began his restaurant career at Maxim’s in the Gold Coast as a wine sommelier. Cuisance opened the legendary LeBordeaux on Madison Street in the loop in 1969. He opened Kiki’s Bistro in 1990, and with 25 years at 900 N. Franklin, he has established a reputation as the “Renaissance” man of River North.
Industry Leaders: Steve Lombardo and Hugo Ralli are savvy entrepreneurs and experienced restaurateurs. Since 1969 Lombardo has founded and operated such successful businesses as BBC Bar & Disco, Hot Spurs Restaurant, and Sweetwater Café in Chicago, as well as Jubilation Bar & Restaurant in Las Vegas. Since 1964, Ralli has worked in corporate food and beverage management, internationally. In 1989 the two opened the doors to Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse on the iconic Rush Street in the space which use to house Mister Kelly’s, followed by Hugo’s Frog Bar & Fish House in 1997. Today, Gibsons Restaurant Group includes four restaurant concepts: Gibsons, Hugo’s, LUXBAR, and Quartino, with eight total locations in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs.
About the Chicago Culinary Museum and Chefs Hall of Fame:
Founded in 2006 by Chef John Kaufmann and the late Chef John Castro in conjunction with the Chicago Chefs of Cuisine Association, Inc., the Chicago Culinary Museum and Chefs Hall of Fame was created to celebrate the achievements and contributions of Chicago chefs, food manufacturers, restaurateurs and hoteliers, while promoting and celebrating Chicago as a culinary mecca. In order to preserve and foster Chicago’s rich and diverse culinary history, the museum is dedicated to providing educational programs for all ages. It is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose goal is to raise funds and awareness in an effort to establish a physical museum in Chicago. For more information on the Chicago Culinary Museum and Chefs Hall of Fame, please visit www.thechicagoculinarymuseum.org.
What: 2015 Chefs Hall of Fame Culinary Experience
When: Thursday, October 15, 2015, 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Where: Crystal Gardens at Navy Pier, 700 East Grand Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 66011
Why: Benefitting the Chicago Culinary Museum http://www.thechicagoculinarymuseum.org/
Tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1332662
Link to photos and detailed bios: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/iuinlakz9xjy4zs/AADt9r3mBFVLGnsdEbjjap04a?dl=0