Chef Bayless to be inducted into hall of fame tonight
Rick Bayless will be inducted into the Chicago Culinary Museum and Chefs Hall of Fame tonight — and I get to be there!
(I’ve discovered that one of the perks of writing a food column is you get some great invitations. I’ve previously attended a private media party at a Wrigleyville restaurant and a wine tasting at Trump Tower.)
The event will be held at the Palmer House Hilton and will feature a cocktail reception, silent auction, awards presentation and a “Wandering Feast.” I don’t know exactly what that entails, but I’m excited and plan to go hungry and with Baggies in my pockets.
Bayless is the third recipient of the Chefs Hall of Fame award. He follows the inaugural induction of Chef Charlie Trotter in 2006 and Chef Jimmy Bannos in 2007.
According to the press release for the event, “Bayless and his wife, Deann, own and operate two award-winning restaurants, Frontera Grill and Topolobampo. A third restaurant is on the horizon for a spring of 2009 opening. He is the author of six cookbooks and the recipient of numerous culinary and cookbook awards including Food & Wine magazine’s “Best New Chef of the Year” in 1988 and the James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Restaurant 2007 which is comparable to winning the Oscar for Best Picture.”
Speakers and presenters at the ceremony will include Trotter, ABC-7 Food Reporter Steve Dolinsky, Cary Miller, Vice President of Food Industry News, and 2008 James Beard Best Chef Great Lakes award-winner Carrie Nahabedian.
I’ll take pictures and post them here tomorrow.
And I’m just kidding about the Baggies, of course.
