And The Winner Is...James Beard Awards 2014 Recap
The most important takeaway from last night's James Beard Awards — the glitzy and highly-anticipated culinary event of the year — is that Mario Batali can pull off Batman crocs. Last night's big winners at the annual James Beard Awards Gala at the Koch Theater in Lincoln Center, hosted by Ted Allen and Mario Batali, included Nancy Silverton of Pizzeria Mozza in Los Angeles for Outstanding Chef, The Slanted Door in San Francisco for Outstanding Restaurant, cronut king Dominique Ansel for Outstanding Pastry Chef, Barbara Lynch of Barbara Lynch Gruppo for Outstanding Restaurateur, and a tie for Rising Star Chefs between Jimmy Bannos Jr. of The Purple Pig in Chicago and Blaine Wetzel of The Willows Inn on Lummi Island in Washington.
See The Daily Meal's Snapshots from the "Yellow Carpet" here (Slideshow)
Best Chef Northeast went to chef Jamie Bissonnette, who told The Daily Meal that he was humbled by the experience.
"When I was a kid I wanted to work for a chef that had won a James Beard award and now I am that chef that has one," said Bissonnette. "It's humbling to think that all the people who voted thought I was good enough."
One of the most prestigious awards at the "Sounds of the City"-themed event that combined the love for and arts of food and music, is the Lifetime Achievement Award which this year went to Sirio Maccioni, the mastermind behind Le Cirque, and the inspiration for many star chefs. The award was presented by former mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Mayor Bloomberg giving the lifetime achievement award 2 the one + only Sirio Maccioni Orale! #jbfa @beardfoundation pic.twitter.com/9xqoxYip6Y
— Aarón Sánchez (@Chef_Aaron) May 5, 2014
The 2014 Humanitarian Award went to chef Matt Haley, known for his efforts in furthering education for children across the globe.
There was an overwhelming feeling of girl power at the awards last night, since many of the major awards went to women, including Silverton's Outstanding Chef, Lynch's Outstanding Restaurateur, and Best Chef New York City, which went to The Spotted Pig's April Bloomfield.
CONGRATULATIONS to my dear friend, fishing buddy and chef of some of the best meals of my life @AprilBloomfield on her #JBFA !! Damn yes!!!
— Anita Lo (@AnitaLoNYC) May 6, 2014
Some of the notable women in the culinary world sharing an after-party truffle pizza:
Pizza w truffles at Otto w @cheffalkner @feedthemary @SherryYard pic.twitter.com/QMRUTCeIB0
— Anita Lo (@AnitaLoNYC) May 6, 2014
Also Robert DeNiro was there, and everyone went wild.
See the next page for the full list of winners:
NATIONAL AWARDS
Nancy Silverton of Pizzeria Mozza in Los Angeles
— Outstanding Restaurant
The Slanted Door in San Francisco
— Rising star Chef of the Year
Jimmy Bannos Jr. of The Purple Pig in Chicago
and Blaine Wetzel of The Willows Inn on Lummi Island in Lummi Island, Washington
— Outstanding Restaurateur
Barbara Lynch of Barbara Lynch Gruppo (No. 9 Park, Menton, B&G Oysters, and others) in Boston
— Best New Restaurant
Peche Seafood Grill in New Orleans
— Outstanding Pastry Chef
Dominique Ansel of Dominique Ansel Bakery in New York City
— Outstanding Service
The Restaurant at Meadowood in St. Helena, California
— Outstanding Wine, Beer or Spirits Professional
Garrett Oliver of Brooklyn Brewery in Brooklyn, New York
— Outstanding Wine Program
The Barn at Blackberry Farm in Walland, Tennessee
— Outstanding Bar Program
The Bar at the NoMad Hotel in New York City
___
REGIONAL CHEF AWARDS
— Great Lakes
Dave Beran of Next in Chicago
— Mid-Atlantic
Vikram Sunderam of Rasika in Washington, D.C.
— Midwest
Justin Aprahamian of Sanford in Milwaukee
— New York City
April Bloomfield of The Spotted Pig
— Northeast
Jamie Bissonnette of Coppa in Boston
— Northwest
Naomi Pomeroy of Beast in Portland, Oregon
— South
Ryan Prewitt of Peche Seafood Grill in New Orleans
and
Sue Zemanick of Gautreau's in New Orleans
— Southeast
Ashley Christensen of Poole's Downtown Diner in Raleigh, North Carolina
— Southwest
Chris Shepherd of Underbelly in Houston
— West
Daniel Patterson of Coi in San Francisco
___
James Beard Foundation America's Classics
— Hansen's Sno-Bliz in New Orleans
Owner: Ashley Hansen
— Nick's Italian Cafe in McMinnville, Oregon
Owners: Nick Peirano, Carmen Peirano and Eric Ferguson
— Olneyville New York System in Providence, Rhode Island
Owners: Stephanie Stevens Turini and Greg Stevens
— Perini Ranch Steakhouse in Buffalo Gap, Texas
Owners: Lisa and Tom Perini
— Sokolowski's University Inn in Cleveland
Owners: Bernard Sokolowski, Mary Balbier and Michael Sokolowski
___
James Beard Foundation Who's Who of Food & Beverage in America Inductees
— Edward Behr, food writer, St. Johnsbury, Vermont
— John Besh, chef and restaurateur, New Orleans
— David Chang, chef and restaurateur, New York City
— Barry Estabrook, writer, Vergennes, Vermont
— Paul Kahan, chef and restaurateur, Chicago
— Sherry Yard, pastry chef and author, Los Angeles
___
— James Beard Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award
Sirio Maccioni of Le Cirque in New York City
— James Beard Foundation Humanitarian of the Year
Matt Haley, philanthropist and restaurateur, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
Joanna Fantozzi is an Associate Editor with The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @JoannaFantozzi