2025 James Beard Awards in Chicago

Trip date: June 2025

*My views are my own, not those of the Foundation*

Last year I was honored to be asked to be a judge for the James Beard Awards. Three new categories were added to their restaurant and chef awards (Best New Bar, Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service, and Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service) which made getting involved even more fun! After months of eating and drinking, it all came down to the big award ceremony which is held yearly in Chicago. I was very excited to attend my first JBF awards and also just to get back to Chicago since the last time I was there was 2017!

Upon landing, I jumped on the L's Blue line which goes right from the airport into the city for $5 and takes about 50 minutes (vs 1 ½ hrs in a taxi because of traffic!). From the Lake Street station it was just a short walk over the river to my hotel the Westin River North. 

I will say that the River North hotel is really in need of a renovation but the location and the view from my window was perfect!

Throughout the weekend there were a ton of events, discussions, pop-ups, bar takeovers, dinners, etc. And I was on my way to my first one just an hour after checking in to my room!

Hawksmoor Chicago was hosting a pop up with New York bar Sip & Guzzle which has been getting a lot of press since opening in Jan 2024. They debuted at #5 on the North America’s 50 Best Bars list and won Best New Cocktail Bar at Tales of the Cocktail this year. I haven't had a chance to visit yet but heard that it is a unique set up of dual bars- one focused on creative and classic cocktails, and the other on delicious and not-so-serious drinks. 

Ben Yabrow, the head bartender and partner of the New York-based bar, was mixing drinks from both menus. As the room was quite big, and people were queue up to order, he was calm but definitely in the weeds. When I made it to the front, I asked him how he was before placing my order and he responded "My bar has just 5 seats!" And here he was mixing for probably 50!

My friend Amy and I had The Tomato Tree from Sip; one of their signature drinks that combines tomato water, dill-infused gin and shochu, a Greek resin liquor called Skinos Mastiha, St. Germain, and clarified lemon juice. It was complex and unexpected. I wasn't a huge fan but I tend to not always enjoy real savory cocktails. From the Guzzle menu we had the Yuzu Margarita with Don Julio Blanco, yuzu, shiso, and palm salt. And it was indeed a guzzler! Yum!

The next day I attended a seminar called Beyond the Bar: Innovations, Trends, and Challenges in the Beverage Industry. This was a great conversation moderated by Dr. Erinn Tucker-Oluwole, Professor and Co-Founder of DMV Black Restaurant Week. The panel was made up of bar professionals and industry writers;  Esther Tseng, Pam Wiznitzer, Will Patton, Andra "AJ" Johnson, and Christine Duke. 

I appreciated that the conversation was really about individual's opinions around what is going on and what is changing. It was interesting to hear everyone's thoughts and ideas on things like post-pandemic challenges, the rise of N/A beverages, new ingredients & flavors, etc. 

That evening I met my friends Frank and Dick on the rooftop of The Pendry Hotel. Their cocktail bar, Chateau Carbide, was hosting Bar Colette, one of the 2025 “Best New Bar” finalist from Dallas, TX.

What a stunning location for these delicious drinks! I had asked one of the Colette bartenders about the significance of a particular garnish being used. He told me he wasn't sure, but the next day at another event, he remembered me and my question and introduced me to Rubén Rolón, their bar director, who graciously gave me a little back story. So not just fantastic cocktails but over the top professionalism and service! I need an excuse to get back to Dallas!

The next morning I attended the Low Intervention event at Maxwell’s Trading. Maxwell's is a restaurant, bar, coffee shop, and gathering place with a lovely rooftop garden and event space. 

Hiyu Wine Farm and Jolie-Laide were both pouring wines; my first time having either and both can count me a fan now!

Stuart Brioza & Nicole Krasinski from State Bird Provisions in San Fran (2025 James Beard finalists for Outstanding Restaurateur) were serving delicious bites along with the owners of Maxwell's Trading. And there were sweet and savory pastries from Mindy Segal of Mindy's Bakery. 

What a fun event with a lot of excellent food and drink and also a lot of very interesting people to talk to; the event was specifically for JBF board members, nominees, presenters, and judges.  

In the afternoon I walked from my hotel to the alley next to Three Dots & a Dash for the inaugural Chicago Cocktail Classic. No surprise that this was the event I was most excited about (besides the actual awards)! 

Upon checking in we were given 12 golf tees, each good for one cocktail from 30 different bars! The bars were set up in the alley, inside Three Dots, next door in the historic Courthouse building, across the street at Salon 61 event space, and inside Gus' Sip & Dip!

I met up with new friends Esther and Noelle and we maximized our golf tees by sharing many of the drinks. The drinks were smaller but not what I would consider a mini, and we were having quite a few, so the sharing was a good strategy.

There was so much talent at this event! Bartenders had flown in from all over the country, Mexico, London, and Paris! It was really such a fun event!

One of the spaces was dedicated to just JBF nominees. It was great to be able to taste from Scotch Lodge in Portland, OR, Water Witch in Salt Lake City, UT and Wolf Tree in White River Junction, VT - all 2025 nominees for Outstanding Bar. 

Best New Bar nominees Agency in Milwaukee, WI, Bar Colette in Dallas, TX, Identidad Cocktail Bar in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Merai in Brookline, MA and Vice Versa in Miami, FL were also there, as was Strong Water in Anaheim, CA which was up for Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program.

I can't say enough about how well run this event was, how generous the bartenders were with their time and energy, and how absolutely delicious everything was! I'd happily sit at any of these bars!

This is going to be an annual tradition in Chicago and tickets are available to the public, so if you live in the area mark your calendar for next year!

And because Esther and I decided that we needed just one more drink (or two) after the Cocktail Classic ended, we showed up at Estereo for the Italian-Cumbia-Ranch Party and had drinks made by Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service nominees Nacho Jimenez, from Superbeuno in NYC and Mary Allison Wright & McLain Hedges from Yacht Club in Denver. More deliciousness and more running into new and old friends at this event!

All of this led up to Monday; the big day! There was a meet-up for all the judges in the early afternoon, and for me it was the first time meeting so many people in my region (judges maintain anonymity during the season, even from each other). 

And then a few hours before the awards there was one more event; Gus' Sip & Dip invited nominees and judges to a private pre-ceremony party! They served up their entire menu of drinks and dishes for free! Let me just say that I had already fallen in love with Gus' the day before at the Cocktail Classic, this party just sealed the deal!

I had walked over on my own but was soon in multiple conversations with the other folks around me. And then ran into new friends Caroline and Will which was just the cherry on top! 

I can't imagine visiting Chicago without a stop in at Gus'! Let me just say that the folks here are very generous with their service and their deliciousness! 

I had heard that the awards were long and that people were starving when they were over, but now I was fueled by that excellent wagyu dip sandwich and a martini! After changing for the black-tie event Caroline and I grabbed a car to the Lyric Opera House; it was officially time for the "Oscars of the Restaurant Industry!"

The red carpet was packed with nominees, celebrities, photographers, media hosts, and handlers. Everyone looked so good and there was so much excitement in the air! We chatted with other judges, wished nominees luck, and had our own step and repeat photos!

The 35th James Beard Awards were hosted by chefs Nyesha Arrington and Andrew Zimmern. There were also so many big name presenters including Rick Bayless, Daniel Boulud, Dale DeGroff, Suzanne Goin, Stephanie Izard, Danny Meyer, Marcus Samuelsson, Gail Simmons, and new Top Chef winner Tristen Epps! 

As each category nominees were announced, there was so much positivity and support from the crowd of peers, and of course as each winner was announced their joy just lit up the auditorium. 

It was an amazing night celebrating people who work so damn hard and deal with so much day in and day out, just to make sure we are all fed, quenched, and happy! Thank you industry professionals, fantastic job nominees (including Seattle restaurants Atoma and Archipelago), and congratulations winners!

Check out all the nominees here and check out all the winners is here.

But wait! After the final award was presented, everyone walked to the gorgeous Union Station for an amazing afterparty! The Great Hall, which holds 1,300 people, was filled with booths and tables manned by restaurants, bars, and celebrities serving up so much food and drink! 

The entire evening was completely over the top in a great way! It was an awesome end to an already awesome weekend filled with talent, inspiration, good vibes, and... caviar! 

Naturally, I used points for the trip. Here's the breakdown:

✈️ One way First Class ticket on Alaska Air SEA-ORD booked for $464. I used $16.72 which was in my Alaska wallet funds and put the balance on my Chase Sapphire Reserve card, triggering my $300 annual travel credit, for a total out of pocket of $146.58

✈️ One way First Class ticket on United ORD-SEA booked for $382.81 using my United Travel Bank. I fund this by purchasing Travel Bank cash on United's website with my Amex Platinum and Amex Gold annual incidental fee credits ($200 each). $0 out of pocket. 

Total price for round trip First Class flights $146.58 

🏨 For my 4-night stay I chose the Westin Chicago River North, a Marriott property.

1st night- 52k points + tax

2nd night- Free Night Certificate + tax

3rd & 4th night- $299 promo rate + tax per night

All Chicago photos here.

Le Perche; Country Living Just Outside Paris

Trip date: September 2023

The 2nd stop on my month long vacation was to France to see the BFF. And since her and I have spent a lot of time in Paris together I requested to spend a long weekend out in Le Perche, where her and her husband have a country home and spend ½ their time. This is a wonderful area, where the very southern border of Normandy meets the very northern border of the Pays de la Loire.  

I flew from WA DC, using points to fly United Polaris Business Class, and arrived at Dulles airport at about 8pm for my 11pm flight. It was so hot in DC that I was very happy to check into the Polaris Lounge and take a shower! It was a really nice, big private room and it felt great to change the clothes I had been in all day!

I had a light dinner and a martini in the lounge before boarding the Boeing 767-400. I was very happy to see that I'd gotten a plane with the new retrofit which included better seats and a 1-1-1 config. My pod felt very private even though it didn't have a privacy doors like on some other airlines. 

I hadn't flown Polaris before and I was really looking forward to it! Besides the common layflat seats, they are known to have custom Saks Fifth Avenue bedding and mini Away suitcase amenity kits. Well the Saks bedding was very nice, but there was no Away bag or pj's which I thought was odd for an overnight flight (turns out pj's are only on United flights over 11 ½ hours).

Drinks, dinner, a movie, some sleep... and in 7 ½ hours I landed at CDG. I took a taxi to my friend's apartment in the 15th and since I was packed for a month, I did a quick repack for the long weekend and left the rest at the apartment. Then we were out the door to the train station; we were wasting no time getting out to the country!

Unfortunately, the machine at the station I was trying to go through with my ticket was malfunctioning and we were close to missing our train. My friend's husband told me just to go through, which I would have done anyway, but I was caught by a station agent. My BFF was ahead of us and hadn't noticed we weren't with her until she was on the train. As my friend's husband and the agent had a heated conversation about the situation, the train left. I ended up paying the fine and we caught the next train while my friend got off hers at a stop and waited for ours to arrive so we would all be together again! Geez! Not the smoothest transition, especially considering I was just off an international flight!

But as soon as we arrived at the country house it was just all relaxation! Forest put together some tasty aperos and cocktails, while Thibault grilled up some steak and veggies for dinner. It was hot so we sat outside all evening and caught up.

The next day Forest and I went to lunch in the tiny town of Digny; approximate population 1000. 

Afterwards we stopped at one of the local farms to pick up some things for dinner. The farm has a small building that houses a few vending machines so that you can still shop even when they are closed. And besides just offering the farm's produce and meat the machines are filled with literally everything you would need for a full dinner including fresh produce, fresh oysters, wine, cheese, and even desserts like macarons! It wasn't cheap but it was handy (and fun!).

We went into the farm's store and picked up some ribs for dinner that night. And on the way out we stopped at another machine, this one from the bakery in Digny, and bought some bread. You can choose your loaf from their selection, all with varying degrees of brownness!

The next day, we made a quick stop at the town's brocante. In French a brocant can mean anything from a yard sale to a flea market and can be a regular event or a one-off. This was mostly yard sale items from the locals in the commune. I love how a lot of Americans get a bit dreamy of the thought of the French, so stylish and sophisticated, and then you see they are selling the same junk as the rest of us! CDs, kids clothes, old magazines, etc. 

I've done some day trips around Le Perche with Forest in the past, but this time we were going to spend a few nights away, so after she said hello to the neighbors we were on the road. This area is absolutely littered with adorable barely-there towns and I was very excited to explore more!

We stopped at the Brasserie du Perche, which sits on a little lake and offers visitors the chance to rent pedal boats, fish, hike the property, visit the goats and of course grab a bite. A lot of folks come here and buy a BBQ kit, basically a cook-it-yourself experience. But being this is France the contents could be something like a terrine, two fillets of meat, potatoes, 1/2 camembert and apple tartlets. We just had a glass of wine by the lake and enjoyed the view as it was only about 11:30am.

Forest had picked a great spot for lunch; Chez Nous in Tourouvre au Perche is a farmhouse restaurant, permanent brocant, and boutique. We ate outside in their big garden, browsed the antique farm items, and shopped their cute modern housewares. Super nice!

Further down the road we stopped in Belforêt-en-Perche for a walk around the adorably tiny town and then sat for a glass of champagne at what may have been the only bar in town.

We were having dinner that evening at Après l’École Restaurant in Saint-Cyr-la-Rosière but we were a bit early so we spent a little time driving around the area. We saw a sign for a dolmen and, although we have been thwarted by these signs in the past, we gave it a shot and went in search. Again we drove down a road following the direction of the sign, only to come to another sign pointing back where we had just come from. The neolithic Dolmen de la Pierre Procureuse was not to be found (by us anyway) but we did spot an incredible Chateau!

The Angenardière manor, a 15th-century manor house, was most likely British owned until 1449. The grand chateau was built as a residence, even though it looks quite fort-like, and is still privately owned. Denis Gouyon's parents bought the manor and its farm in 1964 and he still lives there from what I could find. Forest and I had gotten out of the car for a better look and as we were walking back she heard someone call. She spoke to them briefly and learned that sometimes they will open the manor during the Les Journées Du Patrimoine or French heritage days. It's really a stunning property!

We got back to the restaurant Après l’École right when they opened and had some lovely wine while enjoying the view on their terrace. Then we shared some fantastic clams, local veggies, an amazing steak, and some local cheese. It was early when we ate, and as we left the restaurant was just getting going with lots of locals who knew each other and the owner. A great spot for sure!

We had about a 30 minute drive to our home for the next 2 nights in Rémalard en Perche. D'une Ile is a 10-room bed and breakfast on an old country farm. We arrived after dark so we only had time to check into our room and then grab a Calvados night cap outside on their lovely patio. 

D'une Île means "an island" and the next morning we could see that the property was indeed like an island in a sea of forest, orchards, and gardens. There is a smattering of buildings, most likely used for farm workers back in the day, now remodeled into rooms, social spaces, laundry, kitchen, etc. Our room was on the end of the room block and looked out onto the gardens. 

When we checked in the night before and I asked for the key I was told there weren't any as it was very safe out in the country. That may well be but the property wasn't fenced in, there was no security, and anyone could have come and helped themselves to our stuff. The room was both sparse and stylish and I think Forest summed it up best by saying "similar to natural wines, they get a lot of press for being unique, but they could always be better!" So there were a few precious moments!

Breakfast offerings were simple; fresh baked bread and brioche, butter, jam, yogurt, coffee, tea and juice. You could also order eggs but they weren't included- which I thought was a bit cheap. The small kitchen and bar has a daytime snack menu, available after breakfast, and then offers seasonal dinners- reservations are mandatory. 

As we wandered around the grounds we saw that there was both a sauna (with a window to enjoy the views) and also a large pool. Unfortunately we hadn't packed our swimsuits so we weren't able to use either. There's also a large common room with wi-fi (none in the rooms and I wasn't getting any mobile service), games, and a library. It's all very quiet and relaxing and literally pastoral. 

But the whole countryside is gorgeous, so we headed off to explore and see more of it! In Mortagne-au-Perche, which has absolutely lovely gardens, we did some shopping and had lunch in a very typical bistro. I'm pretty sure we were the only ones in the restaurant that didn't live in the town, it was quite hopping by the time we left!

Just outside of town sits Notre Dame de Mortagne, a very impressive church that was destroyed during the Hundred Years War and then rebuilt on the same site, completed in 1535.

I took a quick stroll through the church and the surrounding grounds as I never pass up an opportunity to look around churches! I was the only one there too which was very cool. 

Driving around the country here is just absolutely gorgeous. It's green and lush and dotted with beautiful stone houses. There's really no traffic, so it's all very quiet and relaxing. 

Back at D'une Île we relaxed for a bit and enjoyed some wine on their patio before getting cleaned up for dinner, which was served there too. The menu was very simple and served to be shared; beef tartare with XO sauce & mushrooms, salad with fresh baked bread & butter, and chocolate madeleines were included in the set price of €42. We chose to add the optional fried zucchini blossoms, pork terrine, and cheese. 

It was all very good and the sunset was a stunning backdrop!

The next morning was drizzly as we checked out and stopped at a bakery in the nearby town to pick up some sandwiches for the train. Then we swung by Le Mesnil-Thomas, picked up Thibault, and headed to the train station for our ride back to Paris. What a lovely and relaxing long weekend!

All photos from Le Perche here.

24 Hours in Saratoga Springs, New York

Trip date: January 2023

My friend John lives in Saratoga Springs, and I had never been there. I mean, that is enough for me to buy a plane ticket! But when I saw that John and his business partner Charles were putting on a dinner in the area with Chef Erik Anderson (currently at Barndiva in the Napa area) I knew it would be a great time to visit.

John and Charles run Rascal + Thorn, a company that specializes in culinary travel. I went on a Northern Spain food & wine tour with John years ago and it was awesome! 

I knew of Anderson from when he was chef at Nashville's Catbird Seat, but when I had the opportunity to eat there Anderson had just left days before! This seemed like a perfect opportunity to finally visit my friend and eat some delicious food! When John found out I was interested in attending the dinner he graciously invited me to come to Saratoga Springs first. 

I booked a United flight in first class from Seattle to Albany, NY which connected through Chicago. It was a quick layover but I made sure to grab some popcorn from my fave Garrett's while walking to my gate. And thank God I had that popcorn as my next flight served only pretzels during dinner time! The flight attendant kindly snagged me a tapas box from the paid cart. 

January in Upstate New York is COLD! And snowy!! I called an Uber at the Albany airport and a huge pickup truck showed up! It was a 30 minute ride to the Holiday Inn in Saratoga Springs where I was upgraded to a bigger room and given free daily breakfast- so posh! haha! 

The hotel offered a free shuttle within a 5 mile radius so I took it to Hamlet & Ghost, as it was the only place in town still open at 10pm. But it turned out to be a great choice, as I ran into John and Erik who were just finishing dinner. 

I had a couple of drinks in their very pretty bar before heading back to the hotel. The kitchen was closed for the night, but the menu looked fantastic. I'd definitely book here if I was back in the area.

The next morning, after my free breakfast, I had the hotel shuttle take me to the Roosevelt Baths & Spa. 

The city is known for its naturally carbonated mineral waters that flow from 20 different springs around town. Each spring has its own makeup of vital minerals and carbon dioxide gas and are known to have numerous healing properties. The water from each spring also has very different tastes!

There use to be a number of baths in the area where people could "take the cure" but The Roosevelt Baths are the last remaining historical baths in the town now. Opened in 1935 as a health center, people would usually come for a 3-week stay that included daily baths in the bubbly waters, diet, exercise, and rest. 

I would just be there for the morning and had an appointment for a 20 minute soak followed by a 50 minute massage. While the waiting lounge was very comfy and modern, the treatment rooms are very clinical and old school. The tub had been filled for me, and it was explained that the color was normal and also that the water was very bubbly and I would probably float, which I did!

Unlike many springs on the west coast, the water here isn't coming from hot springs. The mineral water is cold from underground springs, then the spa mixes it with warm fresh water to a comfortable temperature. It was very relaxing and quite an experience feeling all the bubbles on my skin! My massage was also great and super relaxing. And the residue from the water does not look appetizing but it does taste pretty good!

The shuttle picked me back up and I had them drop me off at First Fill Spirits which is owned by John's biz partner Charles. This is the whiskey shop that every city dreams of having! Charles has put together a really thoughtful collection from around the world and was nice enough to give me a few tastes!

Before heading back to my hotel, I had a quick lunch at the historic Adelphi Hotel, which is right on the main drag. Saratoga is a very cute town, founded in 1776, it still has a lot of Victorian and Renaissance Revival architecture.

I walked through Congress Park which has both a Civil War Memorial, and a World War Pavillion. The park was really pretty, especially in the sunny winter weather. There are also 2 active springs here, Congress Spring and Deer Spring.You'll see Columbia Spring also, but that has dried up and is just the city's normal water now.

That evening John and his wife Kitty had invited Chef Erik, Chef Alex Lempka (from Hamlet & Ghost), and Will Wyatt (owner of Mister Paradise and Pretty Ricky bars in NYC), who would be working the event. Their significant others joined, as well as the couple who own Mack Brook Farm (local beef farmers). I was thrilled to be included in such a fun and delicious night!

Chef Erik and John cooked up a storm! There was lobster and beef and duck! There was a magnum of 1995 Beaucastel and a gorgeous Kistler Pinot Noir. 

Charles brought a bottle of Akashi Whisky for us all to taste and Kitty made individual crostatas. 

And for cheese, I had sent a huge can of Cougar Gold White Cheddar. IYKYK!! It was a hit! 

I absolutely loved getting a chance to see where my friend and his family live, and also meet these amazing folks in the restaurant/bar industry. 

I was really looking forward to heading to Saranac Lake the next day!

All Saratoga Springs photos here.