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CHICAGO, May 14, 2026 — Because the Gold and Silver Plate Awards gala is held in the main atrium of a working train station, it’s not unusual to see travelers freeze at the entrance, stunned to find a Hollywood-caliber party raging where they usually await track announcements.
Signage abounds to help the would-be passengers get to their trains while the festivities unfold. First-time attendees of the awards celebration have been known to wish for similar guidance on squeezing the most from the awards soiree.
Newbies (or attendees who might have partied too hard last year), consider this your roadmap for the evening. Here’s what to expect and how to maximize your enjoyment.
What to wear
Formal dress is recommended. Women usually wear floor-length or cocktail dresses
(or a vibrant tux of their own style). Men are advised to wear tuxedos, though many scale down to the sort of sincerity suit they’d wear to a job interview. Don’t think you can squeak by in jeans and sneakers.
DO NOT arrive late
The event is carefully choreographed to provide plenty of time for attendees to network among the industry’s elite without feeling like sleep-deprived zombies on the show floor of McCormick Place the next morning. Things proceed on a tight schedule, beginning with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres at 5:30. Rub elbows until it’s red carpet time – our parade of past and current winners begins promptly at 6:30.
Lines can also form at the check-in desk, located just inside Union Station’s Jackson Boulevard entrance. Members of the Gold & Silver Plate Society—i.e., past winners—can avoid that potential bottleneck by using an adjacent check-in post expressly for such esteemed guests. (Society members, don’t forget to wear your award medallion!)
So plan accordingly. Many veterans have learned how difficult it can be to get an Uber or a cab at dinnertime in Chicago while the restaurant industry’s annual convention is in town.
Tell your driver you want be dropped off at Union Station’s 500 West Jackson Boulevard entrance. If you just say “Union Station,” you may find yourself on the wrong side of the complex, and the walk is not insignificant.
A wheelchair-accessible entrance is located at the corner of Clinton and Jackson. Alert a member of the IFMA Food Away from Home Association staff if entry assistance is needed.
Wine is available at your table
The bar lines are at their longest right before dinner service begins, in part because some attendees don’t realize wine, red or white, is available at their table.
Sit promptly and stay put
Restaurateurs know how tough it can be to serve fully plated hot meals to a large group. With the awards banquet, we’re talking about 700 covers.
The dining space is also relatively compact, with servers having to squeeze between tables in the best of circumstances. Having to dodge table-hoppers or stragglers hunting for their seats is an added challenge that can extend the service into the awards portion of the event.
Savor the parade of winners
The awards ceremony begins with a parade through the dining area of past Gold and Silver Plate honorees from the last 40 years, from the longest-ago to the 2025 winners. The roster is a veritable Who’s Who of industry giants. Imagine if all the movie stars attending the Oscars walked up the red carpet in formation.
The past winners are followed by this year’s recipients of a Silver Plate, the honor awarded an operator within nine major industry categories. Each is escorted to their seat by a mentor of the honoree’s choosing. (A complete list of the winners and their mentors is available here.)
“The envelope, please ...”
The high point of the event is the announcement of the year’s Gold Plate winner, or the operator selected by an independent jury as the best among the nine Silver Plate winners—the best of the best.
That individual usually says a few words.
A few thoughts are also offered at the start of the awards presentations by the winner of the Legends Award, as chosen by the National Restaurant Association. The honor is bestowed upon an individual with a lifetime of achievements and contributions to the hospitality industry. This year’s winner is Richard “Dick” Marriott, the chairman of Host Hotels & Resorts and a longtime director of the NRA.
Bring a few bucks in cash
A tradition of the Gold and Silver Plate awards is a friendly bet before the Gold Plate winner is announced of which Silver Plate winner will be presented with the higher honor this year. The wagers are usually for $1 or $5. More information on putting a simple pool together is available here.
Stay for coffee and dessert
Dinner ends at 9 p.m., but all attendees are invited stay for coffee, dessert, and live music, which they can savor in a stand-up setting while congratulating this year’s Silver and Gold Plate winners. All are also invited to take pictures, including shots before a backdrop commemorating the event.
Brace for cab delays
Getting to your hotel, home or next party from Union Station can be a challenge because of the demand, even at 10 p.m. or later. The wait last year for Ubers or taxis was considerable, prompting some attendees to trek several blocks to hotels in the Loop, the heart of Chicago’s downtown.
Be sure to specify your pickup point as 500 West Jackson Boulevard.
We’ll see you Saturday, May 16 at 5:30—sharp.
As Managing Editor for IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, Romeo is responsible for generating the group's news and feature content. He brings more than 40 years of experience in covering restaurants to the position.