Print
Email2012 James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards
Published: May 8, 2012
The James Beard Foundation honored the country’s best chefs, restaurants, bars, sommeliers and other industry luminaries at a black-tie gala at New York’s Lincoln Center on Monday, May 7th.
Over 2,000 foodies attended to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the “Oscars” of the food world, eager to see who won and to sample the chefs’ dishes that were reinterpretations of James Beard’s best-loved recipes. Guests noshed on such favorites as Oregon Dungeness Crab Reuben, Crawfish and Gulf Shrimp Salad and Almond Joy Cake while sipping Perrier-Jouet champagne or one the many other offered libations.
The evening’s first award was the prestigious Rising Star Chef. As Momofuku’s Christina Tosi accepted it, she mentioned that her mom would be upset, as she had told her not to attend the awards ceremony as she’d never win! Others continued thanking their wives, moms and mentors—others apologized: Tory Miller was so excited about his winning Best Chef Midwest award that he almost knocked over Jacques Pepin as he ran to the stage to accept it. After apologizing to Jacques at the beginning of his acceptance speech, Tory thanked namesake James Beard for being “such a weird old dude” who did so much to support the culinary community.
Here’s a rundown of the night's stars, with links to their winning restaurants:
Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH) : Bruce Sherman, North Pond, Chicago
Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (D.C., DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA): Maricel Presilla, Cucharamama, Hoboken, NJ
Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI): Tory Miller, L’Etoile, Madison, WI
Best Chef: New York City (Five Boroughs): Michael Anthony, Gramercy Tavern
Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, NY STATE, RI, VT): Tim Cushman, O Ya, Boston
Best Chef: Northwest (AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY): Matt Dillon, Sitka & Spruce, Seattle
Best Chef: Pacific (CA, HI) Matt Molina, Osteria Mozza, Los Angeles
Best Chef: South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS) Chris Hastings, Hot and Hot Fish Club, Birmingham, AL
Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV): TIE
Linton Hopkins, Restaurant Eugene, Atlanta
Hugh Acheson, Five and Ten, Athens, GA
Best Chef: Southwest (AZ, CO, NM, NV, OK, TX, UT) Paul Qui, Uchiko, Austin, TX
Best New Restaurant
Next, Chicago
Outstanding Wine, Beer or Spirits Professional
Paul Grieco Terroir, NYC
Outstanding Wine Program
No. 9 Park, Boston
Outstanding Bar Program
PDT, New York City
Outstanding Service
La Grenouille, New York City
Outstanding Pastry Chef
Mindy Segal, Mindy’s Hot Chocolate, Chicago
Outstanding Restaurateur
Tom Douglas, Tom Douglas Restaurants, Seattle
Rising Star Chef of the Year
Christina Tosi, Momofuku Milk Bar, New York City
Outstanding Restaurant
Boulevard, San Francisco
Outstanding Chef
Daniel Humm, Eleven Madison Park, New York City
