May 2, 2016

HMSHost Sponsors Upcoming James Beard Awards; Celebrates Culinary Excellence

CHICAGO — Global restaurateur HMSHost, in celebration of culinary excellence and innovation, is again a proud sponsor of the James Beard Foundation Awards in Chicago for 2016. 2015 marked the launch of an exciting partnership with the Awards as they made their way to Chicago for the first time, with HMSHost becoming one of the first corporate sponsors to support the James Beard Awards’ move to Chicago. HMSHost has committed to continuing this important partnership through 2017. As the leader in creating dining for travel venues, HMSHost partners with award-winning chefs and restaurateurs to deliver best-in-class, innovative culinary experiences to travelers around the globe.

“The James Beard Foundation Awards are annual awards presented by the James Beard Foundation for excellence in cuisine, culinary writing, and culinary education in the United States. Our company’s dedication to world class innovative dining includes award-winning restaurants, long-lasting relationships with world-class chefs, and innovative dining solutions and menus,” said HMSHost President & CEO Steve Johnson. “We see this partnership as a perfect fit as we continue to drive culinary excellence and deliver these authentic experiences to our traveling guests.”

Leading up to the James Beard Foundation Awards Gala to be held tonight at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, HMSHost created its own chef challenge, Channel Your Inner Chef, in partnership with the Chicago Department of Aviation in celebration of the culinary excellence that can be found right in Chicago. A live cooking competition took place in Chicago O’Hare International Airport’s Terminal 2 with five contestants turning up the heat in a sizzling cook-off, creating an original recipe from an array of ingredients revealed to them only at the start of the event. The winner received among other prizes, a VIP experience for two to the James Beard Awards Gala.

HMSHost will also play a role in the festivities of the awards gala, hosting a culinary demonstration booth reflective of Hawaii Five-O in line with the gala’s theme of television. HMSHost’s culinary and adult beverage teams will present three different cocktails, the Hemingway Daiquiri, Polynesian Paralysis, and Mai Tai; and an appetizer, Spot Prawn Ceviche.