Saturday, May 16, 2026 | Chicago Union Station

 

In May, join hundreds of leaders from across the food-away-from-home ecosystem in the Great Hall at Chicago's historic Union Station as we induct a new cohort of remarkable industry icons into the pantheon of the Gold & Silver Plate Society.    

It will be an evening combining tradition and innovation as we host industry luminaries, share great food and drink, and hear all about the incredible careers of this year’s Silver Plate honorees from their professional mentors.

To top off the evening, the winner of the 2026 Gold Plate will be revealed – always a highpoint of the celebration!    

Register

About the Celebration

 

For over seven decades, IFMA The Food Away from Home Association has honored inspirational operators from across foodservice with our annual Gold & Silver Plate Awards. It is our continuing privilege to host the best of the best at the industry’s longest-standing celebration. 

"If there were a Foodservice Hall of Fame, the exhibits not to miss would be ones honoring past winners of the Gold Plate Award, the Most Valuable Player designation of the food-away-from-home industry. 

The elite group includes some of the biggest names ever to grace the business—luminaries like Danny Meyer, Wolfgang Puck, Charlie Trotter, “21” Club’s Jerry Berns, and New Orleans’ Ralph Brennan." - Peter Romeo, Managing Editor, The history of foodservice is told in the list of Gold Plate Award winner

Explore Current and Past Winners

2026 Silver Plate Winners

BUSINESS & INDUSTRY
Sally Minier
Head of Workplace Strategies, Jane Street
CHAIN LIMITED SERVICE
Scott Murphy
Chief Brand Officer, Inspire Brands
Jessica Shelley
Director of Student Dining Services, Cincinnati Public Schools
Lance Trenary
Persident & CEO, Golden Corral
Antoinette "Toni" Watkins
Director of Food & Nutrition Services, Riverside Health System
Phill Hickey
Chairman, Miller’s Ale House Restaurants

Here’s a Snippet of What to Expect

TRAILER

2025 WINNER

HISTORY

Partner With Us

Sponsor

Articles

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A lifetime in hospitality earns Richard 'Dick' Marriott the 2026 Legends Award

From the time he was 6, the scion of the famed family has strived to leave his mark on the U.S. hospitality industry through smarts and hard work.

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What happens at the Gold and Silver Plate gala stays there, at least in picking the winner

Considerable color is added to the event by its adherence to traditions, one of them being a token bet on who’ll win the Gold Plate award. Here’s how to engage in that time-honored custom.

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How familiar are you with the Gold and Silver Plate awards? Take our trivia quiz to find out

Considerable color is added to the event by its adherence to traditions, one of them being a token bet on who’ll win the Gold Plate award. Here’s how to engage in that time-honored custom.

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Where are they now: Mark Freeman, 2012 Silver Plate winner

The former manager of Microsoft’s foodservice operations wants to air solutions to common problems across the six siloed sectors of “everyday foodservice.”

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Cinemark’s Sean Gamble is redefining 'dinner and a movie’

The Silver Plate winner has brought new success to his theater chain by having it function more as a restaurant.

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Jerry Morgan is more than a caretaker of what he inherited at Texas Roadhouse

Jerry Morgan, CEO of Texas Roadhouse and this year’s Silver Plate winner in the Chain Full Service category, is widely known as Kent Taylor’s successor. But that doesn’t reflect all he’s doing for the company and brand.

What to Expect

Sponsor Logos

Thank You to Our 2025 Sponsors

Event Details 

Chicago Union Station: Great Hall
500 W Jackson Blvd
Chicago, IL 60661

Date/Time:
Saturday, May 16, 2026
5:30pm CDT

The Evening's Programming:
5:30-6:30pm – Cocktail Hour 
6:30-9:00pm – Dinner & Awards Program 
9:00-10:30pm – Dessert Lounge

Attire: Formal Attire

Tables & Ticket Cost 

Table (10 seats): $6,295

Individual Ticket: $695

GSP Society Members and Food Leadership Council Operator Members: Complimentary ticket for themselves and a significant other

Please note: IFMA The Food Away from Home Association reviews all requests for complimentary operator member tickets to ensure that they adhere to standards established by the Board of Directors. The Association reserves the right to request additional information and may decline any non-qualified operator member ticket.

Cancellation/Transfer Policy

Due to high-demand and reserved seating, this event is non-refundable. Questions about payment or to pay via invoice: Contact Sandra Sierra at sandra@IFMAworld.com.

Selection Process 

Every year, IFMA The Food Away from Home Association puts out a call and receives a large slate of nominations from its membership and the industry for Silver Plate Awards. This year, we made revisions to the form, simplifying the process – and resulting in a larger number of candidates!

Education Foundation
Our Education Foundation is committed to giving support to qualified culinary, marketing, supply chain, and food science students. The Education Foundation distributes 100% of its contributions for ongoing growth of the food-away-from-home industry to promote the next generation of leaders.
Gold & Silver Plate Society
Society members, comprised of past Gold and Silver Plate winners, gather annually at the Gold & Silver Plate Awards Celebration in Chicago. During this time members welcome a new class of award recipients in addition to reconnecting with past winners.