NEW YORK, Feb. 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sarah Grueneberg, the chef and partner of Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio in Chicago, has been named MenuMasters Innovator of the Year. She will be honored at this year’s Nation’s Restaurant News MenuMasters gala, sponsored by Ventura Foods and held May 16 at The Drake Hotel in Chicago.
“I’m so pleased that we’re giving this award to Sarah Grueneberg, who has breathed new life into pasta by creating a fun and affordable restaurant that offers Italian classics as well as creative dishes inspired by her global travels,” NRN Senior Food & Beverage Editor Bret Thorn said.
Originally from Victoria, Texas, Grueneberg was the youngest woman sous chef of Brennan’s of Houston before she moved to Chicago and in 2005 to work at Italian fine-dining icon Spiaggia. She worked her way up from line cook to chef de cuisine in 2008 and executive chef in 2010. Under her leadership Spiaggia was awarded a Michelin star three years in a row.
She has traveled widely in Europe, Asia and the United States, and says that knowing the people and culture that created a dish has given her a deeper understanding of it. That has been expressed with dishes on the “Pasta Atipica” section of Monteverde’s menu, including wok-fried pasta Arrabbiatta, and Cannelloni Saltimboca.
After being a finalist on Bravo TV’s “Top Chef: Texas,” Grueneberg went on to open Monteverde with her long-time friend Meg Sahs in late 2015.
In 2016 Monteverde made the lists of best new restaurants in the country by multiple magazines, including Food & Wine, Bon Appétit and GQ. Monteverde also has been awarded three out of four stars by the Chicago Tribune. Also in 2016, Eater Chicago named it Restaurant of the Year.
In 2017, Grueneberg won the James Beard Foundation Award for best chef in the Great Lakes region, and in 2018 Monteverde was named Restaurant of the Year in the Jean Banchet Awards.
The MenuMasters Innovator award goes to chefs or operators at chains or independent restaurants who bring a new dynamic or style to food and dining. Past winners have included Paul Kahan, Stephanie Izard, David Barzelay, David Burke and Dan Coudreaut.
About MenuMasters
MenuMasters is an invitation-only event for foodservice executives celebrating excellence in menu research & development. Now in its 23rd year, the MenuMasters Awards identify and recognize research and development executives and their respective foodservice companies for outstanding dedication and achievement to the area of research and development, and the product lines that are developed and marketed by their restaurant and foodservice companies. Follow #MenuMasters on social media to join the excitement, and get more information on the gala and how to attend on the MenuMasters website.
About Ventura Foods
Ventura Foods’ mission is to help our customers delight their customers. We continually do so by creating the flavors and custom food solutions that our foodservice, food manufacturing and retail customers value. Ventura Foods fuels your passion for great food. No one keeps ahead of flavor trends and develops delicious dressings, sauces, mayonnaises and other products like we do. Think of Ventura Foods as your secret ingredient for attracting and keeping customers. www.venturafoods.com
About Nation’s Restaurant News
Nation's Restaurant News (NRN) is the No. 1 source of business information for the foodservice industry. For more than 50 years, NRN has served the information and engagement needs of foodservice professionals, offering award-winning content across all mediums with the goal of driving businesses forward. NRN was named Best Media Brand by the Jesse H. Neal Awards in 2019. NRN is part of The Restaurant & Food Group by Informa Connect. www.nrn.com
About The Restaurant & Food Group by Informa Connect
The Restaurant & Food Group by Informa Connect is the largest and most integrated media brand portfolio in foodservice and supermarket retail. The group connects the entire food and foodservice ecosystem of operators, chefs, retailers, manufacturers, vendors and solutions providers through traditional, digital, social and custom media as well as in-person events and conferences. restaurant-food.informaconnect.com
About Informa
Informa PLC is a leading, international business to business information services Group, operating in over 30 countries. We create transaction-led exhibitions and content-based events, specialist data, intelligence and marketing services products, as well as scholarly research and specialist reference-led academic content. Our products and services help businesses and professionals connect, learn, do business and gain an edge over the competition. Informa is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a member of the FTSE 100.
Media Contact:
Jesse Yeung
Media Marketing Director, Restaurant & Food Group
Informa Connect
jesse.yeung@informa.com
Event Contact:
Kathryn Frankson
Event Marketing Director, Restaurant & Food Group
Informa Connect
kathryn.frankson@informa.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3e421bc1-770f-446b-a079-43741f50232e