Congrats to Myers + Chang’s Karen Akunowicz, who took home the Beard Award for Best Chef Northeast at Monday’s ceremony in Chicago. The bad-ass chef, cookbook author and Top Chef alum beat out category contenders including top tier local talent like Tony Messina of Uni, Cassie Piuma of Sarma and Tiffani Faison of Tiger Mama, Sweet Cheeks and the forthcoming Fool’s Errand. Akunowicz joins the ranks of Boston’s elite cookers including Ana Sortun, Ken Oringer, Jamie Bissonnette, Barbara Lynch, Lydia Shire and Jody Adams, who was named a Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America. See all of last night’s award winners on the official James Beard Foundation website.