Chicago may have snagged just one James Beard chef award last night, but the city's restaurants scored other benefits from food writers, critics and chefs who packed dining rooms across town during awards week.

State of play: Chef Jake Potashnick, whose Ukrainian Village restaurant Feld has wowed Chicago diners with its seasonality and inventiveness, took home a medal for Best Chef Great Lakes.

What he's saying: "It's like a childhood dream come true," Potashnick tells Axios.

• "I was such a little foodie nerd kid and to have this happen — I could never have imagined it in my wildest dreams ... but we're just trying to make ourselves a little better everyday."

State of play: Last night, officials from the James Beard Awards and the city told Axios that they are still discussing whether the awards will stay in Chicago beyond 2028.

• We hope so, because, the rewards for the city go way beyond the just the medals.

Here's where the mega foodies ate while in town:

"Daisies for the fritto misto and desserts" and Creepies for the "gougere, eggs and mayonnaise and the fries of my life. Plus, I'm such a fan of chef Anna Posey." –Francis Lam, editor in chief at Clarkson Potter and host of The Splendid Table

I went to "Four Letter Word cafe for coffee and Lula Cafe for the trout scramble and pancakes — my favorite pancakes ever — and the asparagus and stracciatella and the house salad. It's so good." –Hailee Catalano, Beard winner of best general interest cookbook for "By Heart"

• The Elmhurst native is also heading for Cellar Door, where she cooked while in Chicago.

Cellar Door Provisions: "I love watching their evolution, the smart, startling ingredients and a little retro '90s theme running through some of the dishes like the brie agnolotti." –Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times dining critic

Kasama for brunch and then again Kasama for dinner. –Dave Utterback, chef at Ota and Yoshitomo in Omaha, Nebraska

Oriole, Smyth, JP Graziano's and Bar Kumiko. –Dave Beran, chef at Seline in Santa Monica, California, former chef at Chicago's Next and Alinea

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The Chicago Bulls are hiring former Portland Trail Blazers coach Tiago Splitter to take over as the new head coach of the franchise, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.

Why it matters: The Bulls have spent the last two months tearing down the old regime and are now betting their future on a coach known for developing young talent.

Zoom out: Splitter, who was the Blazers' interim coach last year, surprised the league and led Portland to the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference.

Zoom in: Splitter will take over from Billy Donovan, who was popular with the front office and the players on the roster, but didn't win here.

• Donovan finished 226-256 over six seasons, with just one playoff appearance.

Backstory: Splitter had a career playing in the NBA, bouncing from San Antonio to Atlanta to Philadelphia. After retiring, he took a job as a scout. In 2023, he was an assistant for the Houston Rockets and before joining the Blazers staff, he was the head coach of Paris Basketball in the Euroleague.

The intrigue: Splitter made the best of a young, talented roster in Portland, and executive vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham is hoping he can do the same with the Bulls.

More on the Bulls' future

On this day in 1996...

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🚴 Records show that the person who allegedly caused cyclist Riley O'Neil's fatal crash this month has a history of traffic infractions. Advocates are calling for better bike infrastructure where O'Neil was killed. (Tribune)

🏫 Areas surrounding the 50 schools the city closed in 2013 saw a 10% increase in gun violence compared to neighborhoods with similar demographics where schools didn't close, a new study found. (Sun-Times)

💻 Illinoisans have expanded access to digital materials such as e-books, magazines and research databases through the new Illinois Reliable Information Sources, or IRIS, program. (Block Club)

The DePaul Art Museum closes to the public on Sunday, but the permanent collection is staying put.

Why it matters: Opponents of the closure argue that DPAM, which has been dedicated to exhibits on social justice issues and to showcasing underrepresented artists, is essential for students to become critical thinkers.

• DePaul will continue to keep the more than 4,000-piece collection at the museum's current Lincoln Park location, retaining students' and faculty's access for research and academic purposes.

Zoom in: Since its opening in 2011, DPAM has featured the works of more than 600 Chicagoans and underrepresented artists, the university noted in its closure announcement.

Catch up quick: Last October, DePaul president Robert Manuel projected a $12.6 million shortfall for 2026, with a need to reduce spending by more than $27 million.

• The Catholic university cut more than 110 faculty positions in December, and its leadership announced plans to close DPAM in February.

What's next: In addition to educational visits, DPAM will loan works from its collection to other institutions, thereby platforming artists who aren't as well represented in other museums.

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Longtime Chicago anchor and reporter Sylvia Perez announced her departure from Fox 32 on Friday.

Zoom in: Perez, who has been a fixture in Chicago news for almost 40 years, is leaving television news to expand her production company.

• She will concentrate on her podcast "Supper with Sylvia."

Context: The Emmy Award-winning journalist started her Chicago career in 1989 at ABC 7. Perez anchored the 11am newscast with Linda Yu until 2013.

• In 2016, she left ABC 7 and found a new home at Fox 32.

Zoom out: Perez joins a growing list of veteran news broadcasters who have moved on from Fox 32 this year. Longtime sports anchor Lou Cannelis and political reporter Paris Schutz both left for NBC 5.

The bottom line: Perez tells Axios she's not retiring and won't rule out a return to broadcast in the future.

• "For more than three decades, the people of Chicago welcomed me into their homes and trusted me to tell the stories that mattered most," Perez said. "That trust has been one of the greatest honors of my life, and I will always be grateful for it."

What's next for Perez