A new recipe for the Banchet Awards

What's happening: After a year's hiatus, organizers are relaunching the program with a narrowed mission of celebrating and supporting local culinary talent.

What's happening: No longer organized by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the awards are partnering with Chicago Chefs Cook to raise money for a leadership development program run by Hyde Park restaurant Virtue.

What they're saying: "It was important to us that funds raised from the Banchet awards go back to the culinary arena and to chefs advancing our community in profound ways," Chicago Chefs Cook co-founder Sarah Stegner tells Axios.

• The formal Banchet ceremony, followed by a culinary after-party, will take place Jan. 28 at Venue Six10.

Nominees include: Kyōten, Jeong, Galit and Daisies for Restaurant of the Year.

• Indienne, Valhalla, Warlord and Obélix for Best New Restaurant.
• Chefs Margaret Pak at Thattu; Trevor Fleming, Emily Kraszyk and John Lupton at Warlord; Christian Hunter at Atelier and Damarr Brown at Virtue are vying for Rising Chef of the Year.
• Chefs Paul Fehribach at Big Jones; Genie Kwon and Tim Flores at Kasama; Stephen Gillanders at Valhalla and Paul Virant Vie are up for Chef of the Year.

Zoom in: "I'm struck by the breadth and depth of the names here. Definitely not a Usual Suspects list," says former Tribune dining critic Phil Vettel, who will also be honored in the January ceremony.

• He tells Axios, "I'm just honored to be in the same ceremony with these chefs."

If you go: Tickets will go on sale for $150 through Tock soon. Check here.