Chicago chefs shine in the Big Apple

When Jeremy Lycan stepped into the kitchen at the James Beard House, he followed in the footsteps of numerous young chefs, many of them from Chicago.

"I feel like clearly there is great culinary talent in Chicago," says Izabela Wojcik, director of house programming for the James Beard House. "When you talk about traveling and what cities have to offer, Chicago is on the top of that list."

Windy City chefs who have presented their menus at the Beard House include, in no particular order, Charlie Trotter of Charlie Trotter's, Paul Kahan of Blackbird, Graham Elliot Bowles of the Penninsula Hotel, Roland Liccioni of Le Francais, Martiel Noguier of 160blue, Homaro Cantu of Moto, Rick Tramanto and Gale Gand of Tru, Arun and Niramon Sampanthavivat of Arun's, Maneet Chauhan of Vermillion, Tony Mantuano of Spiaggia, Steve Chiapetti of Viand and Shawn McClain of Spring.

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Nationally, chefs who have fired up the stoves at the James Beard House include Jacques Pepin, Wolfgang Puck, Mario Batalli and Marcus Samuelsson.

Lycan is the first Chicago-area chef to visit the Beard House this year, but he won't be the last.

"Chicago is a strong culinary town and that is certainly reflected in our calendar," Wojcik says.

Chefs Mohammed Islam and Malika Ameen of Aigre Deux and Carol Wallack of sola are scheduled to cook at the house later this year.

Dinners are open to the public. For a schedule, go to www.jamesbeard.org/events.