Foodie Fridays Special Edition: James Beard Foundation Awards Weekend Arrives In Chicago

James Beard Foundation Awards Weekend, leading up to Monday evening's "Oscars of the Culinary World" is in full swing! This year's awards will be hosted by funnyman, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, of ABC's Modern Family. Chicagoans are invited to taste dishes and menus inspired by the late, great culinary expert and cookbook author James Beard at 125 Chicago-area restaurants. The so-called week actually runs 11 days. Prices vary. April 21 to May 1. Multiple locations, www.choosechicago.com/jbf.  Check-out the events below:

Saturday, April 29th

Jeremy Fox cookbook lunch Boka chef and partner Lee Wolen (2017 best chef Great Lakes nominee) and Jeremy Fox, the chef of Rustic Canyon in Santa Monica, Calif., will create a five-course vegetarian lunch with recipes from Fox’s debut cookbook, “On Vegetables: Modern Recipes for the Home Kitchen." Fox first made his name at the critically acclaimed restaurant Ubuntu in Napa, Calif. Ticket also includes a signed copy of the book. $85, plus optional $35 wine pairing. 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Boka, 1729 N. Halsted St., 312-337-6070, www.eventbrite.com.

The Iconoclast Dinner Experience Host chef Joseph "JJ" Johnson (2015 rising star chef semifinalist) of Minton’s in Harlem celebrates Beard-recognized chefs, including Aya Fukai of Maple & Ash (2017 outstanding pastry chef semifinalist), Jamilka Borges of Spoon in Pittsburgh (2015 rising star chef semifinalist) and Digby Stridiron of Balter in St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands (2014 Beard Boot Camp alumnus). Tickets include food from each chef, plus wine and spirits. All net proceeds benefit Spelman College students from Jamaica and sub-Saharan African countries. $100. 8-11 p.m., Morgan's on Fulton, 950 W. Fulton Market, 312-374-3686, tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com and more information at www.theiconoclastdinner.com.

Miami takeover at Tacoteqa Chef Jimmy Lebron and bar manager Bobby Eldridge of The Broken Shaker (2013 outstanding bar program semifinalist) at The Freehand hotel in Miami will take over Tacoteqa, the late-night taco shop at The Freehand Chicago, offering a special a la carte food and cocktail menu for one night only. 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., The Freehand, 19 E. Ohio St., 312-940-3699, www.freehandhotels.com/chicago.

Sunday, April 30th

Sofra Bakery brunch Avec chef Perry Hendrix and 2017 outstanding pastry chef nominee Maura Kilpatrick of Oleana restaurant and Sofra Bakery in Cambridge, Mass., will collaborate on an a la carte brunch with the latter’s Middle Eastern-inspired dishes and the former’s house Mediterranean- and Midwestern-influenced menu. Reservations recommended. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Avec, 615 W. Randolph St., 312-377-2002, www.avecrestaurant.com.

Shake Shack, Milk Bar and Bang Bang backyard barbecue Boka chef Lee Wolen hosts another event, this time with Milk Bar pastry chef Christina Tosi (2016 outstanding pastry chef winner), Danny Meyer's Shake Shack and Chicago's own Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits. Shake Shack will create a burger inspired by Wolen’s Boka menu, while Bang Bang and Tosi’s New York-based Milk Bar will serve sweets. Tickets also include snacks and alcoholic drinks. $40. 3-6 p.m. Boka, 1729 N. Halsted St., 312-337-6070, www.eventbrite.com.

Otto Mezzo preview party with Charles Joly World’s best bartender award winner Charles Joly (Beard outstanding spirits professional semifinalist this year) will mix drinks at soon-to-open Italian cocktail bar Otto Mezzo, helmed by chef Kevin Hickey and mixologist Brandon Phillips. Tickets include Italian food and cocktails. $50. 4-7 p.m., Otto Mezzo, 311 W. Chicago Ave., www.rockitranch.com.

Izakaya special at Momotaro A three-course special menu will include a beer and a shot at the Tokyo-pub-inspired Izakaya, in the basement of Momotaro (2017 outstanding restaurant design nominee). No ticket or reservations required. $25. 6 p.m. to midnight, Momotaro, 820 W. Lake St., 312-733-4818, www.momotarochicago.com.

Trick Dog and Dirty Dick Tiki takeover Three Dots and a Dash beverage director Julian Cox hosts the bar teams from 2017 outstanding bar program semifinalist Trick Dog in San Francisco and Dirty Dick in Paris. Taste Tiki creations from all three bars. Proceeds benefit two San Francisco nonprofit organizations, Precita Eyes and Creativity Explored. No entry fee; drinks priced a la carte. 5-8 p.m., Three Dots and a Dash, 435 N. Clark St., 312-610-4220, www.threedotschicago.com.

Common Threads chef takeover A menu inspired by late chef Charlie Trotter, who received dozens of Beard accolades and last won the 2012 humanitarian of the year award, will feature five courses from chefs Fabio Viviani of Siena Tavern and Prime & Provisions, Anita Lo of Annisa (2017 best chef New York City nominee), Brad Kilgore of Alter and Brava in Miami (2017 rising star chef semifinalist), Joseph "JJ" Johnson (2015 rising star chef semifinalist) of Minton’s in Harlem, and Dana Cree of the Publican brand (2015 outstanding pastry chef nominee), plus wine pairings by Master Sommelier Serafin Alvarado. Proceeds benefit Common Threads, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing health and wellness to children, families and communities through cooking and nutrition education. $175; $250 chef's table. 5-8:30 p.m., Prime & Provisions, 222 N. LaSalle Drive, 312-726-7777, www.commonthreads.org/cheftakeover.

Frontera's 30th anniversary party Join chef Rick Bayless, multiple Beard award winner, in celebrating the 30th anniversary of his iconic restaurant Frontera Grill. The event features an all-star symposium with chef Paul Kahan, “Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me!” host Peter Sagal and more, and a chef food court with dishes from Bayless, Stephanie Izard, Ming Tsai and many more. Ticket proceeds will be divided between the Frontera Farmer Foundation and FamilyFarmed to promote family farming and a more sustainable food system. $500. 5:30-8:30 p.m., the Art Institute of Chicago, Modern Wing, 159 E. Monroe St., 312-443-3600, www.frontera30.org.

“Global Cities, Culinary Soft Power” panel and cocktail reception Join multiple Beard award winning journalist and "Bizarre Foods" host Andrew Zimmern, chef Daniel Boulud, Stephen Starr of Starr Restaurants in Philadelphia (2017 outstanding restaurateur nominee), Vermilion owner Rohini Dey and Choose Chicago CEO David Whitaker for a panel moderated by James Beard President Susan Ungaro. Ticket includes Indian-Latin cocktails and appetizers; half of the proceeds will benefit the James Beard Foundation’s Women in Culinary Leadership Program. $95. 6-8 p.m., Vermilion, 10 W. Hubbard St., 312-527-4060, www.eventbrite.com.

Cure and Cafe Henri at Violet Hour 2016 outstanding bar program winner The Violet Hour hosts Cure from New Orleans, this year’s nominee in the same category, to create collaborative cocktails. Chef Alfredo Nogueira of Cure’s Cafe Henri serves a menu of Southern snacks. No entry free; menu priced a la carte. 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., The Violet Hour, 1520 N. Damen Ave., 773-252-1500, www.theviolethour.com.

Photo credit:  Chef Carla Hall courtesy of AP Photo/Matt Marton from 2016 JBF Awards