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2011 Rising Star Chef Shin Thompson came away with the coveted Jade plancha prize for Best Dish—gala attendees voted with their stomachs for his Scallop-Crab Motoyaki. Chef Andrew Zimmerman took home the Best Plating Award and a $5000 prize from Steelite International for his sophisticated and seductive Pheasant Agnolotti.

With Champagne, Highland Park Single Malt Scotch Whisky, superb wine and beer pairings from Rising Star Sommelier Rachael Lowe and Beer Sommelier Michael McAvena, and knockout cocktails from Rising Star Mixologist Paul McGee, the refreshments were as exciting as the dishes. And the Joe Hurt Trio kept guests bebopping until late in the evening.

2011 StarChefs.com Chicago Rising StarsChefs Jimmy Bannos Jr. of The Purple Pig; Curtis Duffy of Avenues; Dirk

Flanigan of Henri and The Gage; Stephanie Izard of Girl & the Goat; Chris Pandel of The Bristol; Shin Thompson of Bonsoirée; and Andrew Zimmerman of Sepia; Pastry Chefs Patrick Fahy of Blackbird and Jimmy MacMillan of the University Club of Chicago; Hotel Pastry Chef Meg Galus of Park Hyatt; Community Chef Ryan Poli of Tavernita; Sustainability Chef Geoff Rhyne of Fig; Concept Chef Jared Van Camp of Old Town Social; Restaurateurs Kevin Boehm and Rob Katz of Boka Restaurant Group; Mixologist Paul McGee of The Whistler; Sommelier Rachael Lowe of Sixteen; and Beer Sommelier Michael McAvena of The Publican.

Sponsor ParticipationOur sponsors play an integral, interactive part in all StarChefs.com Rising Stars events per city: the chefs’ panel, honorees dinner, gala and awards ceremony, and the industry-only afterparty. From dishes and pairings featuring sponsor ingredients prepared by the Rising Stars themselves, to prominent signage, book placement, and a place on stage at the awards ceremony—StarChefs.com sponsors and culinary professionals work together and celebrate together.

Press CoverageTime Out Chicago, Chicago Eater, Chicago Now, Chicago Sun-Times, Tasting Table, The Feast, Today’s Chicago Woman, Chicago Tribune and Youknewblog.com all had a great time at the gala and gave rave reviews.

2011 StarChefs.com Chicago Rising Stars GalaThe 2011 StarChefs.com Chicago Rising Stars Awards Gala took the Windy City by storm. Twenty chefs prepared star-worthy dishes and were joined by a bevy of Chicago’s culinary greats, including powerhouse duo Paul Kahan and Terry Alexander, former Rising Stars Bill Kim, Giuseppe Tentori, Tim Dahl, and Frank Brunacci, and Chicago hero Jimmy Bannos Sr. Chicago Now called it “one of the best food events of the year.”

Clockwise from top: 2011 StarChefs.com Chicago Rising Stars; Chef Stephanie Izard plates her Rising Stars dish; 2008 Starchefs.com Rising Star Chef Giuseppe Tentori with Chef Curtis Duffy and Starchefs.com’s Will Blunt and Antoinette Bruno; Buttermilk Blue Cheese Semi Freddo with Five-Spice Caramelized Walnuts by Chef Beverly Kim Clark

We would like to thank our sponsors for their generous support of StarChefs.com Rising Stars: Meat & Livestock Australia, Jade Range, Highland Park Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Steelite International, Winston Industries, Cervena Venison, Nordaq Fresh, Emmi Roth USA, Waring Commercial, Unified Brands, TriMark, Vitamix, Fresh Origins, Foods from Spain/Olive Oil from Spain, Blodgett, Verterra and Aspenware. Additionally, our local partners were instrumental in making the weekend possible: Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park, Chicago Magazine, Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute, Bistronomic, Old Town Social, and Common Threads.

Clockwise from top left: 2011 Chicago Rising Stars How to Make it Panel at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts; A student at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts asks the panel a question; Pastry Chef Jimmy MacMillan of the University Club; Chef Chris Pandel of The Bristol; Chef Jared Van Camp of Old Town Social responds to a panel question; Pastry Chef Jimmy MacMillan, and Chefs Curtis Duffy, Jared Van Camp, Chris Pandel, and Dirk FlaniganHow to Make it Panel

Date: May 23, 2011 | Location: Le Cordon Bleu

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Clockwise from top left: Revelers at the Honorees Dinner; Tofu with Yuzu-Marinated Petrossian Trout Roe by 2005 Rising Star Chef Gene Kato; Stephanie Izard, Rob Katz, Chris Pandel, Ryan Poli, Andrew Zimmerman, and Shin Thompson; 2008 StarChefs.com Rising Star Chef Bill Kim with his wife, Yvonne Kim; Antoinette Bruno toasts the StarChefs.com Rising Stars with Highland Park Single Malt Scotch Whisky; Quinoa Ssam with Australian Wagyu Beef and Micro Thai Basil by Chef Bill Kim; Velvet Monkey featuring Highland Park 12-year Single Malt Scotch Whisky by 2005 Rising Star Mixologist Adam SegerHonorees Dinner

Date: May 23, 2011 | Location: Bistronomic

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Clockwise from top left: The 2011 Class of StarChefs.com Chicago Rising Stars and their gift of Vitamix blenders; Chef Dirk Flanigan, and Will Blunt and Antoinette Bruno of StarChefs.com; Mixologist Paul McGee pours Highland Park 12-year Single Malt Scotch Whisky; Australian Wagyu Beef Cheeks, Savory Black Sesame Sponge, Smoked Coconut Pudding, Preserved Kumquats, and Sudachi by Chef Curtis Duffy; Caviar Parfait: Bellini Custard, Chopped Dressed Egg, Horseradish Crème, and Petrossian Ossetra Caviar (VIP Reception) by Chef Brad Parsons of Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park; Chef Beverly Kim Clark of Aria at Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park; Guests of the gala watch as the 2011 StarChefs.com Chicago Rising Stars are handed their awards by their mentors; Chef Jared Van Camp plates Duck Wings, Harissa and Cucumber-Mint Raita

GalaDate: May 23, 2011 | Location: Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park

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Clockwise from top left: 2011 StarChefs.com Chicago Rising Stars Afterparty at Old Town Social; Blood & Sand featuring Highland Park 12-year Single Malt Scotch Whisky by Beverage Director-partner Chris Freeman of Old Town Social; Guests mingle at the 2011 StarChefs.com Chicago Rising Stars Afterparty at Old Town Social; Morel Mushroom Arancini with Illinois Ramp Pesto by Chef Jared Van Camp of Old Town Social; James Kerwin, Liz Skirpan, Chef Shin Thompson, and Chef de Cuisine Luke Creagan of Bonsoirée; Chef Curtis Duffy with his kitchen staff from Avenues at The Peninsula; Assorted House-made Charcuterie made with Australian Lamb; The kitchen crew of Old Town Social, with 2011 StarChefs.com Rising Star Jared Van Camp at far right

Industry-Only AfterpartyDate: May 23, 2011 | Location: Old Town Social

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