Chicago restaurants and chefs had an impressive showing at Monday night's James Beard Foundation awards.
Mindy Segal of Bucktown's Hot Chocolate took home a national award in the Outstanding Pastry Chef category. She'd been previously nominated six times, and according to her Twitter feed, was on her way to Joann Fabrics when she received word.
Next restaurant was named Best New Restaurant in the national categories.
And Bruce Sherman of North Pond restaurant won a regional award in the Best Chef: Great Lakes category.
Other local notables included Charlie Trotter, who received the James Beard Foundation Humanitarian of the Year.
Grant Achatz was inducted into the James Beard Foundation Who's Who of Food & Beverage in America
The awards are considered the Oscars of the culinary world. Last year, Rich Melman was the only Chicagoan to win at the ceremony, taking home the Outstanding Restaurateur award.
