Introducing Eater Young Guns, an annual roll call of the next guard. The aim: to identify the most promising up-and-comers in the restaurant and nightlife world, whether they're working as chefs or line cooks, sommeliers or bartenders, restaurateurs or maître d's.
The criteria are simple. Nominees must be under 30 years of age (or have worked in their chosen field for less than five years) and must be currently employed in the hospitality industry in the United States. Though you most likely haven't yet heard their names, they must show extraordinary promise. These kids are the future, those that will soon lead the business.
It's our goal to make Eater Young Guns the most democratic award of its kind—one that finds outstanding talent in cities and hamlets large and small. To identify them, we're opening the nomination process up to everyone. Yes, everyone. Know an amazing young somm, an empire builder in the making, a burgeoning chef's chef? We want to hear about them. Starting right this second, we're asking for your nominations right here. This nomination process will be open through the end of April.
Then, we'll put our heads together with the legends of the industry who've agreed to serve on the Young Guns deliberation committee—the full group will be announced when they begin, but Andrés, Barber, Batali, and Boulud gets us halfway through the Bs—to choose the truly worthy. To keep things as transparent as possible, the entire process will be presented in full view in this space—select nominations, letters of recommendation, nominee interviews, and committee deliberations. Come June, we'll name this year's inaugural class and toast them at a gala event.
In closing, the call to action. Know someone who deserves to be honored as an Eater Young Gun? Don't be shy. Fill out the nomination form here; if you have additional supporting materials, please send them our way at youngguns@eater.com.
And may the Young Guns come forth.
