Culinary industry honors its best

Source: Associated Press
NEW YORK - Winners were announced for the 11th annual James Beard Foundation Awards, recognizing "excellence and achievement in the culinary industry," at a ceremony April 30 at the New York Marriott Marquis, with actor John Ritter as host. Sixty-four awards were presented.

Among top honors:
"Hot Sour Salty Sweet: A Culinary Journey Through Southeast Asia" (Artisan, $40), written by Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid, was named KitchenAid Cookbook of the Year. The book also won Alford and Duguid, along with photographer Richard Jung, awards in the category of best food photography.

Elizabeth David's "A Book of Mediterranean Food" (John Lehmann, London, publisher; Penguin Books) was inducted into the KitchenAid Cookbook Hall of Fame.

Ernest Gallo, 92, chairman and cofounder with his late brother Julio, of E&J; Gallo Winery, Modesto, Calif., received the James Beard Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award.

Among the chefs-restaurants awards, Patrick O'Connell, chef and co-owner of the Inn at Little Washington in Washington, Va., was named All-Clad Metalcrafters Outstanding Chef, the award for a chef who is a national standard bearer of excellence.

Campanile in Los Angeles received the San Pellegrino Outstanding Restaurant award, for a restaurant in operation for more than 10 years that has set national industry standards. Alain Ducasse, in New York City, was named illy Best New Restaurant for a restaurant opened in 2000.

Galen Zamarra of Bouley Bakery in New York City was named Grey Poupon Rising Star Chef of the Year.

The Humanitarian of the Year Richard Grausman, president of the Careers Through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP), New York. C-CAP teaches basic professional cooking skills and provides scholarships to students high school students in impoverished areas.

Recipients of the American Express Best Chefs Award for outstanding chefs in their regions were: Michael Romano, Union Square Cafe, New York City; Ken Oringer, Clio, Boston (Northeast); Jean-Marie Lacroix, Fountain at the Four Seasons, Philadelphia (Mid-Atlantic); Odessa Piper, L'Etoile, Madison, Wis. (Midwest); Frank Stitt, Highlands Bar and Grill, Birmingham, Ala. (Southeast); Robert McGrath, Roaring Fork Restaurant, Scottsdale, Ariz. (Southwest); Nancy Oakes, Boulevard, San Francisco (California) and Philippe Boulot, the Heathman, Portland, Ore. (Northwest/Hawaii).

Four restaurants were named Bertolli Olive Oil Regional Classics, an award for local restaurants with "timeless appeal and quality food." They are: H & H Car Wash and Coffee Shop, El Paso, Texas; Langer's Deli and Restaurant, Los Angeles; Versailles, Miami; and Waterman's Beach Lobster, South Thomaston, Me.

Named to the D'Artagnan Cervena Who's Who of Food and Beverage in America, for lifetime achievements to the industry, were: Mario Batali, chef and co-owner of Babbo, Esca and Lupa in New York City, and host of Food Network's "Molto Mario"; Michael Ginor and Izzy Yanay, founders of Hudson Valley Foie Gras; Joan Nathan, cookbook author and host of PBS-TV's "Jewish Cooking in America"; Lynne Rossetto Kasper, cookbook author and host of the radio show "The Splendid Table"; and Martin Yan, cookbook author and host of PBS television's "Yan Can Cook."

Journalism awards were presented at a ceremony April 29 at the Grand Hyatt New York. Of the 15 awards made, Gourmet magazine was the top winner in six categories.

The James Beard Foundation is a not-for-profit organization "dedicated to furthering the practice and appreciation of the culinary arts."

More than 600 food and beverage industry professionals in the United States vote by confidential ballot for nominees and winners.

For a listing of winners, go to www.jamesbeard.org
Source: Associated Press