Louisville shut out in James Beard Awards

[Robin Garr]

Read 'em and weep. I'll post the media and cookbook awards list separately.

WINNERS
2009 James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards
For restaurants opened in 2008

Category: outstanding restaurateur award
A working restaurateur who sets high national standards in restaurant operations and entrepreneurship. Candidates must have been in the restaurant business for at least 10 years. Candidates must not have been nominated for a James Beard Foundation chef award in the past 10 years.

Drew Nieporent
Myriad Restaurant Group
249 W. Broadway, #2E
New York, NY 10013
212-219-9500

Category: outstanding chef award Presented by All-Clad metalcrafters
The working chef in America whose career has set national industry standards and who has served as an inspiration to other food professionals. Must have been a working chef for the past five years.

Dan Barber
Blue Hill
75 Washington Place
New York, NY 10011
212-539-1776

Category: outstanding restaurant award
The restaurant in the U.S. that serves as a national standard bearer of consistency of quality and excellence in food, atmosphere
and service. Restaurant must have been in operation for at least ten years.

Jean Georges
Chef/Owner: Jean-Georges Vongerichten
Owner: Phil Suarez
1 Central Park West
New York, NY 10023
212-299-3900


Category: best new restaurant presented by lexus
A restaurant opened in 2006 that already displays excellence in food, beverage and service, and is likely to make a significant impact in years to come.

Momofuku Ko
Chefs/Owners: David Chang and
Peter Serpico
163 1st Ave.
New York, NY 10003
http://momofuku.com/ko/

Category: rising star chef of the year
A chef, age 30 or younger, who displays an impressive talent, and who is likely to make a significant industry impact in years to come.

Nate Appleman
A16
2355 Chestnut St.
San Francisco, CA 94123
415-771-2216

Category: outstanding pastry chef award presented by All-clad metalcrafters
A chef or baker who prepares desserts, pastries or breads, who serves as a national standard bearer of excellence.
Must have been a pastry chef or baker for the past five years.

Gina DePalma
Babbo
110 Waverly Place
New York, NY 10011
212-777-0303

Category: outstanding wine service award
A restaurant that displays and encourages excellence in wine service through a well-presented wine list, knowledgeable staff and efforts to educate customers about wine. Restaurant must have been in operation at least five years.

Le Bernardin
Wine Director: Aldo Sohm
155 W. 51st St.
New York, NY 10019
212-554-1515

Category: outstanding wine and spirits professional award presented by southern wine & spirits of New York
A winemaker, brewer or spirits professional who has made a significant national impact in the wine and spirits industry. Must have been in profession at least five years.

Dale DeGroff
Dale DeGroff Co.,
New York, NY
516-565-4981

Category: outstanding service award
PRESENTED BY STELLA ARTOIS
A restaurant that demonstrates high standards of hospitality and service. Must have been in operation for the past five years.

Daniel
Owner: Daniel Boulud
60 E. 65th St.
New York, NY 10065
212-288-0033

BEST CHEFS IN AMERICA PRESENTED BY AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
Chefs who have set new or consistent standards of excellence in their respective regions. Chefs may be from any kind of dining establishment and must have been a working chef for the last five years. The three most recent years must have been spent in the region where chef is presently working.

Category: best chef: Great Lakes
(IL, IN, MI, OH)

Michael Symon
Lola
2058 E. 4th St.
Cleveland, OH 44115
216-621-5652

Category: best chef:
Mid-atlantic
(DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)

Jose Garces
Amada
217-219 Chestnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215- 625-2450

Category: best chef: Midwest
(IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI)

Tim McKee
La Belle Vie
510 Groveland Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55403
612-874-6440

Category: best chef:
New York City
(FIVE BOROUGHS)

Gabriel Kreuther
The Modern
9 West 53rd St.
New York, NY 10019
212-333-1220

Category: best chef: Northeast
(CT, MA, ME, NH, NY STATE, RI, VT)

Rob Evans
Hugo's
88 Middle St.
Portland, ME 04101
207-774-8538

Category: best chef: northwest
(AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY)

Maria Hines
Tilth
1411 N 45th St.
Seattle, WA 98103
206-633-0801


Category: best chef: Southwest
(AZ, CO, NM, NV, OK, TX, UT)

Paul Bartolotta
Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare at Wynn Las Vegas
3131 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702-770-3305

CATEGORY: BEST CHEF: SOUTH
(AL, AR, FL, LA, MS)

John Currence
City Grocery
152 Courthouse Square
Oxford, MS 38655
662-232-8080

CATEGORY: best chef: Southeast
(GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)

Mike Lata
Fig
232 Meeting St.
Charleston, SC 29401
843-805-5900



category: best chef: Pacific
(Ca, HI)

Douglas Keane
Cyrus
29 North St.
Healdsburg, CA 95448
707-433-3311



Category: America’s Classics

Breitbach’s Country Dining
Owner: Mike Breitbach
563 Balltown Road
Sherrill, IA 52073

Totonno’s
Owner: Lawrence Cimineri
1524 Neptune Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11224
718-372-8606
Mustache Bill’s Diner
Owner: Bill Smith
8th and Broadway
Barnegat Light, NJ 08005
609-494-0155

Yank Sing
Owner: Vera Chan-Waller
101 Spear St.
San Francisco, CA 94105
415-957-9300
Arnold’s Country Kitchen
Owner: Jack and Rose Arnold
605 8th Ave. S.
Nashville, TN
615-256-4455




WINNERS

Category: Humanitarian of the Year
Feeding America

CATEGORY: LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Ella Brennan

CATEGORY: WHO’S WHO OF FOOD & BEVERAGE IN AMERICA

David Burke
Chef/Entreprenuer, NYC

John T. Edge
Journalist, Director, Southern Foodways Alliance
Oxford, MS

Betty Fussell
Author, Culinary Historian, NYC

Dorothy Cann Hamilton
Founder, The French Culinary Institute, NYC
Clark Wolf
Clark Wolf Company, NYC

Shut out ... again. Wasn't the last local winner a media person? Barry Bernson, perhaps?

[Robin Garr]

Shut out ... again. Wasn't the last local winner a media person? Barry Bernson, perhaps?

Barry Bernson? I don't THINK so ...

I don't think it's any secret that I'm a Beard judge for the Southeast, and I certainly sent nominations and a ballot forward.

I've heard hints, though, that the Beard folks have a bad taste about Louisville because a couple of restaurants in recent years have done rather ham-handed PR efforts to stuff nominations and get themselves noticed. It worked, but not the way they had in mind.

Am I just completely dreaming that there was a media award in Louisville, perhaps four or five years ago? Anyone recall that?

[Robin Garr]

Am I just completely dreaming that there was a media award in Louisville, perhaps four or five years ago? Anyone recall that?

It wasn't us (I never apply for that stuff). Meaning no disrespect to local radio and TV, I just can't think of anyone doing on-air food criticism who seems like a likely candidate for a national award.

As I recall, there was a winner (OK, now I'm thinking maybe just a nominee, but SOMETHING!) in a category that wasn't criticism, but rather "food interest," kind of like human interest. I've Google-searched the daylights out of it, and can't find much Beard award history. Wish the Beard website was bit more complete, cause this is going to drive me nuts.

Yes, it was Barry Bernson who was nominated for a Kentucky influenced culinary documentary a few years ago. I bumped into his cameraman at the pre gala party for chefs in New York.

[Robin Garr]

Yes, it was Barry Bernson who was nominated for a Kentucky influenced culinary documentary a few years ago. I bumped into his cameraman at the pre gala party for chefs in New York.

Well, good for Barry. I've known him for years and like him. I just never thought of him as a food critic, though.

Thanks, Looi.

Again, Robin, it was not a critical piece - more a "slice of life," as I recall.

I'm sorry to hear that none of the great chefs in Louisville were tapped for the award.

Not to gloat, but our favorite chef here in Maine, Rob Evans, did win Best Chef Northeast. He's self-trained, but you wouldn't know it by the brilliant, great tasting meals he puts out. Rob's a really nice, down to earth guy, and the kudos are well deserved. Though I'm sure success won't spoil him, hopefully this honor will help keep the tables filled in his restaurant.

I'm sorry to hear that none of the great chefs in Louisville were tapped for the award.

Not to gloat, but our favorite chef here in Maine, Rob Evans, did win Best Chef Northeast. He's self-trained, but you wouldn't know it by the brilliant, great tasting meals he puts out. Rob's a really nice, down to earth guy, and the kudos are well deserved. Though I'm sure success won't spoil him, hopefully this honor will help keep the tables filled in his restaurant.

I've said it before on here, but from my limited experience Maine has some very impressive restaurants and chefs (my experience being in the Owls Head to Rockland to Camden corridor), some located in very out of the way places, and people that seem very passionate about their food.