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MenuMasters 2015 winners: A closer look

MenuMasters 2015 winners: A closer look

GALLERY: See all the MenuMasters 2015 winners >>

The trends of premium products, healthful items, culinary mashups and local flavors all are reflected in the 2015 MenuMasters Award winners.

Presented by Nation’s Restaurant News and sponsored by Ventura Foods, the awards honor outstanding menu research and development. Winners have created menu items the NRN editorial team has judged to have had a significant impact on the foodservice industry.

Smashburger, Chick-fil-A, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Which Wich Superior Sandwiches and Aramark’s sports and entertainment division are being recognized for new or improved dishes added to their menus in the last year. The items range from healthful sandwiches with vegan protein to a decadent fried bologna sandwich fit for hungry sports fans. Bonefish Grill is being honored for Best Menu Revamp, which highlights its expanded offerings including ceviche and street food-inspired tacos. And Mendocino Farms will receive the Trendsetter award for its line of high quality, creative sandwiches.

Jimmy Bannos Jr. of The Purple Pig in Chicago has been named Innovator of the Year for his creative interpretation of Mediterranean food.

In addition, Louisiana native John Besh will be inducted into the MenuMasters Hall of Fame, joining such culinary luminaries as Jacques Pépin and Paul Prudhomme. Besh and his New Orleans-based Besh Restaurant Group have spent the better part of the past two decades celebrating the state’s unique ingredients and culture, contributing to a new dynamism in one of the country’s great culinary centers.

The winners will be honored at a celebration at the Drake Hotel in Chicago May 16. Read on for a closer look at the award-winning dishes, menus and chefs driving innovation in foodservice.

Contact Bret Thorn at [email protected].
Follow him on Twitter: @foodwriterdiary

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