Chicago chefs swept the Best Chef category for the Great Lakes (which includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio) in finalists announced by the James Beard Awards today. The Beards are considered the Oscars of the restaurant industry.

Winners will be announced May 6 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, at an event hosted by actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Semifinalists were announced Feb. 27.

The Best Chef finalists are:

• Diana Dávila, Mi Tocaya Antojería

• Jason Hammel, Lula Cafe

• Beverly Kim and Johnny Clark, Parachute

• David Posey and Anna Posey, Elske

• Noah Sandoval, Oriole

• Lee Wolen, Boka

Alisha Elenz of MFK restaurant is a finalist for Rising Star Chef of the Year (chefs under 30).

The much-lauded Lost Lake snagged the finalist nominee for Outstanding Bar Program, and perennial favorite Spiaggia got a finalist nod for Outstanding Wine Program.

In a category they've been nominated for before, Kevin Boehm and Rob Katz of Chicago's Boka Restaurant Group (Boka, Girl & the Goat, Momotaro) are finalists for Best Restaurateur.

For the best restaurant design or renovation since Jan. 1, 2016, two Chicago spots got nods for restaurants 76 seats and over. Chicago finalists are Lonesome Rose, done by Land & Sea Dept., and Pacific Standard Time, by Parts & Labor.

Other Chicago finalists are:

Outstanding Baker

Greg Wade, Publican Quality Bread

Outstanding Pastry Chef

Meg Galus, Boka



Find all the finalists here.