Latest news with #ScotchLodge
Time Out
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
These three Chicago restaurants took home James Beard Awards last night
Chicago has a storied history with the James Beard Foundation Awards, taking home a whopping 50 trophies since the culinary honors hosted its first ceremony back in 1991. And that connection triumphantly continued at the 2025 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards, which were held at the Windy City's own Lyric Opera of Chicago—its home base through 2027—on Monday, June 16, where two top-rate local spots got their well-deserved dues. Chicago had 22 semifinalists up for awards in categories like Outstanding Restaurant, Outstanding Chef and Best New Restaurant, two of which ultimately took home a coveted medal. First-time nominee Kumiko —Julia Momose's elegant West Loop bar that pairs Japanese omakase with bespoke cocktails to sublime results—was rightfully crowned this year's Outstanding Bar, beating out worthy competitors like Scotch Lodge (Portland, OR), The Lovers Bar at Friday Saturday Sunday (Philadelphia, PA), Water Witch (Salt Lake City, UT) and Wolf Tree (White River Junction, VT). And over in the Best Chef: Great Lakes category (which honors top toques in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio), Noah Sandoval of two-Michelin-starred Oriole in the Fulton River District, continuing a nice little streak for Chicago-area chefs. This is the fourth time in five years that a local chef has won in the category, with Sandoval joining Kasama 's Tom Flores (2023) and Genie Kwon (2022) and Virtue 's Erick Williams (2021). What a group! Outside of the competitive categories, a longtime Chicago favorite also got some James Beard love this year: Lem's Bar-B-Q, the longstanding barbecue joint in Greater Grand Crossing, was the recipient of one of the foundation's 2025 America's Classics Award, which recognizes 'locally owned restaurants with timeless appeal that serve quality food and are beloved by their communities.' Lem's was joined by fellow iconic eateries including the Pioneer Saloon in Ketchum, ID; Sullivan's Castle Island in Boston, MA; Lucky Wishbone in Anchorage, AK; Dooky Chase in New Orleans, LA; and Gaido's in Galveston, TX.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Wicker Park staple The Violet Hour closed until further notice
CHICAGO — Wicker Park's critically acclaimed bar, The Violet Hour, will remain closed until further notice, the establishment announced over the weekend. The bar, located at 1520 N. Damen Avenue, has already been closed for nearly three weeks due to ongoing plumbing issues and internal repairs needed at the property. Wicker Park bar named one of the nation's best by Food & Wine In a statement shared on social media, the owners say they are still in discussions with the building's landlord about how to proceed with the repairs. As a result, the reopening date remains uncertain. 'While we don't have a set timeline yet, it is very much our intention to reach a resolution and make the necessary repairs to the building,' the post read. The closure comes just ahead of the James Beard Awards, set to take place in Chicago on June 16. The Violet Hour had been scheduled to host a pop-up for Scotch Lodge, a nominated bar from Portland, Oregon. A new cocktail book from The Violet Hour's Beverage Director Bar officials say that event has now been moved to Friends of Friends, a newly opened neighborhood bar at 2001 W. Grand Avenue. All existing reservations will be honored at the new venue. 'Thank you for your continued support. We can't wait to welcome you back, if and when the time is right,' The Violet Hour said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
