The 2013 Star Chefs New York Rising Stars Is A Look Into The Future

Star Chefs is a culinary trade organization that, along with fostering a sense of community among cooking professionals, hands out a well-researched, future-glimpsing awards program called Rising Stars. I'm a huge fan of this program. Unlike more established awards programs that tend to retread year after year, the Rising Stars winners are usually just that. Rising. On the cusp of big things.

I covered the event in 2007 where guys like Michael Anthony, Craig Hopson, Chris Santos, Damon Wise and Akhtar Nawab earned recognition. They also called out Japanese chefs Masato Shimizu and Yosuke Suga (hardly household names, but a big deal to some in that world). Star Chefs is ahead of the curve, that is for sure. And reviewing the below list of winners — who will be feted at a gala tonight — reveals some familiar names, but others not so. All should be watched. We know the other awards programmers will be.

CHEFS

Brooklyn

Justin Bazdarich Speedy Romeo

Justin Hilbert Gwynnett St.

Joseph Ogrodnek and Walker Stern Battersby

Angelo Romano The Pines

Dale Talde Talde

Manhattan

PJ Calapa Ai Fiori

Leah Cohen Pig and Khao

Matt Lightner Atera

Justin Smillie Il Buco Alimentari e Vineria

Michael Toscano Perla

HOTEL CHEF

Abram Bissell The NoMad

SUSTAINABILITY CHEF

Evan Hanczor Parish Hall

PASTRY CHEFS

Ashley Brauze DB Bistro Moderne

Malcolm Livingston II wd~50

Katy Peetz Blanca

ARTISANS

Aurélien Dufour Daniel Boulud Restaurants

Zachary Golper Bien Cuit

CONCEPT

Joe Carroll, Fette Sau

COMMUNITY

Michael Chernow and Daniel Holzman The Meatball Shop

RESTAURATEUR

Noah Bernamoff Mile End Delicatessen

SOMMELIERS

Thomas Pastuszak of The NoMad

Emilie Perrier of Ai Fiori Altamarea Group

MIXOLOGISTS

Jeff Bell PDT

Jillian Vose Death and Co.

BREWER

Candidates include the head brewers from 508 Restaurant and Bar, Birerria, Bridge and Tunnel Brewery, Bronx Brewery, Rockaway Brewing Company and Singlecut Beersmiths.

GUEST CHEF

Hillary Sterling The Beatrice Inn

VIP CHEF

German Calle Petrossian Restaurant New York