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  1. BizBash Lists

Esquire Celebrates Best Restaurants Issue With Gourmet Peanut Butter Cups, Plenty of Vodka

Jenny Berg
December 10, 2010

Released in November, Esquire's "Best New Restaurants in America" issue honors eateries throughout the country. This year, Chicago's Epic was included on the list, and was the location for a "Best New Restaurants" celebration on Wednesday night. John Mariani, the magazine's food and travel correspondent, co-hosted the cocktail bash with Epic executive chef Stephen Wambach.

"The goal is to create a celebratory event in the regional markets that have been chosen by Esquire as 'the best,'" said the magazine's New York-based director of marketing, Scott Lehmann. In addition to the Chicago iteration, the six-year-old event takes place in cities including San Francisco, Miami, and Dallas. Lehmann said that logistical challenges are few: "The restaurants are thrilled to be asked to host this sort of celebratory event, so usually the most challenging aspect is to find a suitable date."

Some 300 guests made it to Chicago's event. "The target audience is a combination of Esquire readers, Esquire advertising clients in the Chicago market, V.I.P. guests of the owners of Epic, and Chicago media," said Lehmann.

In addition to brief speeches from Mariani and Wambach, the evening offered passed snacks from the restaurant's menu and bars devoted to beer and wine. Yes Vodka hosted the cocktail bar, conjuring up specialty quaffs such as strawberry-basil martinis and tangerine mules spiked with ginger beer.

E19682standalone
Photo: Eric Craig for BizBash
The event drew 300 guests, and took place on the restaurant's upper levels.
The event drew 300 guests, and took place on the restaurant's upper levels.
Photo: Eric Craig for BizBash
Buckets of Corona topped one bar.
Buckets of Corona topped one bar.
Photo: Eric Craig for BizBash
Another bar offered specialty cocktails from sponsor Yes Vodka.
Another bar offered specialty cocktails from sponsor Yes Vodka.
Photo: Eric Craig for BizBash
Yes Vodka cocktails included a tangerine mule and a strawberry-basil martini.
Yes Vodka cocktails included a tangerine mule and a strawberry-basil martini.
Photo: Eric Craig for BizBash
Sponsors, which included Buick Regal as well as Yes Vodka, got prominent signage.
Sponsors, which included Buick Regal as well as Yes Vodka, got prominent signage.
Photo: Eric Craig for BizBash
Appetizers included Epic's 'Tuna Tartare Parisien,' made with fried shallots and potato crisps.
Appetizers included Epic's "Tuna Tartare Parisien," made with fried shallots and potato crisps.
Photo: Eric Craig for BizBash
Passed desserts included mini bites of the restaurant's chocolate peanut butter cake.
Passed desserts included mini bites of the restaurant's chocolate peanut butter cake.
Photo: Eric Craig for BizBash
Guests thumbed through copies of the magazine's December issue.
Guests thumbed through copies of the magazine's December issue.
Photo: Eric Craig for BizBash
John Mariani, Esquire's food and travel correspondent, described the criteria he uses for selecting the country's best new restaurants. Stephen Wambach, Epic's executive chef, also said a few words.
John Mariani, Esquire's food and travel correspondent, described the criteria he uses for selecting the country's best new restaurants. Stephen Wambach, Epic's executive chef, also said a few words.
Photo: Eric Craig for BizBash
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