Award shows: You love them or you hate them. And award shows can be a slog, even for the nominees. The Jean Banchet Awards, Chicago’s homegrown food and restaurant celebration, acknowledges this and takes its own approach. Led in the last few years by Michael Muser of Grace (and soon, Ever) fame, their show has become an essential party for the local industry, full of fun, inside jokes and playful roasting, but never lacking the foundation of respect that underpins the Chicago restaurant community. (Lauren Knight)
