Chef Steven Oakley -- Indy's Best and Brightest

Tuesday, I ran into Chef Steven Oakley of Oakleys Bistro at the awards luncheon for Junior Achievement's 2006 Indy's Best and Brightest awards. And wouldn't you know he won the Media, Entertainment & Sports category beating 9 other finalists. Winners were judged on professional excellence, so it was no surprise! Quite a few family and friends were there to cheer him on and his concern? That he should be back at the restaurant. And his greatest thrill as a successful small business owner and one of the best chefs in Indianapolis? "I'm so lucky that I get to go into work and do something I love every day."

Three other chefs/restauranteurs were nominated in the same category as well as the Retail Services and Manufacturing category including Ryan T. Nelson (Executive Chef and Operating Partner, The Oceanaire Seafood Room), Bennet Ackerman (Owner, Performance Restaurant Consulting, The Melting Pot, and D'Vine, A Wine Bar), and Jeremiah Hamman (Managing Partner, Mo's, A Place for Steaks.)

Congratulations to all the finalists and Steve!