The Citiblog

Photo: Kopitiam

StarChefs, the national restaurant industry magazine known for annually recognizing the top culinary talent nationwide, announces the 2020 Class of New York Rising Stars and launches Rising Stars Restaurant Week, a two-week campaign (beginning December 1st) that spotlights the Rising Stars and incentivizes guests to celebrate alongside them by enjoying their signature dishes and beverages. The 2020 class includes 27 Rising Stars, recognized by StarChefs for their culinary strength, in addition to their charitable contributions to New York City and ability to navigate, lead and inspire during one of the industry’s most challenging times.

Photo: Nami Nori

Since 1995, StarChefs has supported the restaurant industry by offering resources and a close-knit network for restaurant professionals. The StarChefs’ Rising Stars program began in 2003 to honor up-and-coming chefs and hospitality professionals who represent the vanguard of contemporary American dining nationwide. Nominations for StarChefs’ Rising Stars come from Rising Stars Alumni, who include Lucas Sin of Junzi and Nice Day, Daniele Soto-Innes of Cosme and Atla, Greg Baxtrom of Olmsted, JJ Johnson of Fieldtrip, Simone Tong of Little Tong Noodle Shop and Silver Apricot, among many others, as well as the StarChefs editorial team, local epicurean media, and the general public. Every year, the StarChefs team meets with more than 100 nominees in each featured city including chefs, pastry chefs, bartenders, sommeliers and artisans, and after months of tastings and interviews, selects a group of talented Rising Stars. The 2020 New York Rising Stars will be the 70th class of Rising Stars and the 12th from New York City.

Photo: Oxomoco

“When you put this city’s back up against a wall, you see metal and ingenuity. From Maison Yaki’s Black Entrepreneur Series, to Rethink Food’s quick call to action partnering with restaurants to feed front-line workers, this is an industry reunited and recommitted,” says StarChefs Managing Partner Will Blunt. “These industry professionals are eager to usher in the new, kinder and more sustainable era of hospitality—so now is their chance to set the tone for years to come.”

In lieu of the annual awards ceremony and to help drive further attention to restaurants during this trying time, StarChefs is launching Rising Stars Restaurant Week, a two-week campaign that spotlights each of the 2020 New York Rising Stars. Guests can celebrate the StarChefs Rising Stars by experiencing the signature dishes, wine pairings, cocktails, baked goods and masa that wowed the StarChefs team. When guests post a Rising Stars’ dish or drink on Instagram during Rising Stars Restaurant Week, they will be automatically entered to win a $100 gift card to that Rising Stars establishment or a Vitamix Blender. To be entered to win the $100 gift card or the Vitamix Blender, guests must tag @StarChefs and #StarChefsRisingStars on an Instagram story or in-feed post.

Photo: Frenchette

Rising Stars Restaurant Week runs from December 1st through December 15th and will adhere to federal and state health and safety guidelines. For more information, visit starchefs.com.

2020 StarChefs New York Rising Stars Award Winners:

Alan Delgado | Oxomoco

GAME CHANGER

Recognizes a chef whose leadership is boldly advancing the restaurant industry

Presented by S.Pellegrino

Alan Delgado | Oxomoco

Eric See | Ursula

COMMUNITY

Recognizes a chef who is deeply connected in the local culinary community, dedicates his or her time to community outreach and is ultimately a catalyst for involving members of the culinary community in important initiatives

Presented by Kikkoman USA

Eric See | Ursula

Taka Sakaeda l Nami Nori

CONCEPT

Celebrates a creative, well-executed and chef-driven restaurant concept that has been met with success in the local market and could be expanded

Taka Sakaeda, Jihan Lee & Lisa Limb | Nami Nori

Paul Donnelly | The Tyger

CHEFS

Paul Donnelly | The Tyger

Jae Lee | Nowon

Diego Moya | Racines NY

Kyo Pang | Kopitiam

Sungchul Shim | Kochi

Jay Wolman | LaLou

Caroline Schiff | Gage & Tollner

PASTRY CHEFS

Presented by TCHO Chocolate

Julie Elkind | Bâtard

Michelle Palazzo | Frenchette

Caroline Schiff | Gage & Tollner

MASA MAKERS

Matt Diaz & Carlos Macías | For All Things Good

BAKERS

Adir Michaeli | Michaeli Bakery

Autumn Moultrie & Brian Villanueva | Back Alley Bread

SAKE BREWERS

Brian Polen & Brandon Doughan | Brooklyn Kura

SOMMELIERS

Presented by Wines from Spain

Eliza Christen | Misi

Jhonel Faelnar | Atomix

BARTENDERS

Brian Evans | Sunday Hospitality

Harrison Ginsberg | Crown Shy

Shannon Tebay | Death & Co

Rising Stars Supporters:

Symrise, Steelite International, Vitamix Commercial, Niman Ranch, S.Pellegrino, Kikkoman USA, TCHO Chocolate, True Aussie Lamb, Wines from Spain, Singer M.Tucker, Centerline by Hobart, Fresh Origins, Lone Mountain Wagyu, Savencia Cheese USA, Buffalo Trace