The James Beard Awards are being handed out in Chicago Monday night to the best restaurants and chefs from around the country.Five local chefs and restaurants are nominated, including Galit in Lincoln Park for Outstanding restaurant and Kumiko in the West Loop for Outstanding Bar.

The James Beard Awards are sometimes called the Oscars of food, but the 35th annual ceremony at the Lyric Opera in Chicago on Monday focused on the political moment far more than Hollywood did at the Academy Awards in March.

Chicago restaurants including Oriole, Kumiko and Lem's Bar-B-Q won James Beard awards Monday night during a star-studded ceremony held at the Civic Opera House. Why it matters: The accolades can often bring in more business,