Ravenswood's Del Sur Bakery Chef Justin Lerias Wins Prestigious Banchet Award

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Ravenswood · February 4, 2026

Ravenswood's culinary scene is celebrating a major achievement as local pastry virtuoso Justin Lerias of Del Sur Bakery & Café has won the coveted Pastry Chef of the Year at the 2026 Banchet Awards, Chicago's premier culinary honors. The ceremony, held January 25th at Venue SIX10 in the Loop, recognized Lerias for his innovative approach to infusing traditional Filipino flavors into artisanal pastries with a Midwestern flair.

Lerias gained recognition for incorporating distinctive Filipino ingredients like calamansi citrus and sweet longanisa sausage into his baked creations at Del Sur's brick-and-mortar location in Ravenswood, which consistently draws long lines of eager patrons. The annual Banchet Awards celebrate excellence across Chicago's diverse culinary landscape, highlighting everything from fine dining establishments to neighborhood gems. This year's ceremony recognized the best in Chicago's local culinary scene, with top honors going to Indienne in River North and chef John Manion of El Che and Brasero.

Neighborhood food enthusiasts can visit Del Sur Bakery to experience Lerias' award-winning pastries firsthand and congratulate the team on their well-deserved recognition. This achievement further establishes Ravenswood as one of Chicago's most exciting culinary destinations, where innovative chefs continue to push creative boundaries while honoring diverse cultural traditions.

Sources:
1. https://www.wttw.com/playlist/2025/10/16/banchet-awards-culinary-excellence-2026-nominees
2. https://www.wbez.org/food-drink/2026/01/25/banchet-awards-ceremony-winners-chicago-chefs-restaurants
3. https://www.wbez.org/food-drink/2025/10/16/jean-banchet-award-nominees-2026-chicago-restaurants