Hasta La Ideas

(Photos, from left to right: James Beard Foundation, Kent Miller)

As if Wright’s Ron Gilad exhibition, the Target pop-up store, and the fact that is home to one Steve Delahoyde weren’t enough reasons to visit Chicago, the Windy City is also home to the best designed resturant, at least according to the 2009 James Beard Awards, which were announced on Monday evening at a ceremony at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall. Thomas Schlesser of New York-based Design Bureaux bested Philippe Starck and co. to win the Best Restaurant Design Award for his work at The Publican: check out some tasty photos of the Chicago restaurant’s interior, including its distinctive ladderback walnut chairs, here. Schlesser (pictured above with his shiny new medal) was also a finalist for his design of Bar Boulud in New York City. Taking home the 2009 award for Best Restaurant Graphic was the Korn Design design team of Denise Korn, Javier Cortés, and Bryant Ross for their work on everything from the identity and signage to website and art installations at Denver’s The Corner Office. Go for the graphics, stay for the blueberry cheesecake waffles.