Chicago's Alinea named best restaurant by James Beard Foundation

CHICAGO, May 3 (UPI) -- Chicago restaurant Alinea was named 'outstanding restaurant' by the James Beard Foundation on Monday night.

Chef and co-owner Grant Achatz accepted the award at the black-tie James Beard Foundation Awards gala at Chicago's Civic Opera House, thanking his team for "channeling the spirit of the restaurant."

Alinea opened in 2005 in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood. It has a single tasting menu of 18-22 courses that change depending on what's in season. On its website, it boasts of its "modernist cuisine" and for delivering a dining experience that is "fun, emotional, and provocative."

The restaurant is owned jointly by Achatz and partner Nick Kokonas. It's closed for remodeling but is scheduled to reopen in a few weeks.

Other awards were Suzanne Goin of Lucques in Los Angeles as outstanding chef, New Orleans' Shaya best new restaurant, and New York's Ken Friedman (The Spotted Pig, The Breslin, Tosca Cafe) as best restaurateur, Daniela Soto-Innes of Cosme as rising star chef and Eleven Madison Park for outstanding service.

The evening's theme centered on TV's relationship with food over the years.

Leah Chase accepted this year's Lifetime Achievement award. "This gives me courage to keep going for about 10, 12 more years," said the 93-year-old proprietor of Dooky Chase in New Orleans. "I'll be in that kitchen."