"james beard awards 2010" news and stories

The hangovers are just wearing off, but the winners are still floating and gloating following this year's James Beard awards, held at the Avery Fisher Hall in New York City's Lincoln Center. Our man at the awards wraps up the night and reveals how "The Beards" are about more than handing out medals and garnering backslaps from one's chef peers. They are a hotbed of deal-making and industry schmoozing, confirming -- as Jacques Pepin says in this video -- the once lowly profession of "chef" has become something American culture views as the province of "geniuses." Hear Tom Colicchio revel in his victory and see what the kitchenfolk wear when they shed their aprons and stroll the red carpet.

Every year, chefs, food and beverage professionals, journalists, food authors, and restaurant architects and designers gather to attend "the Oscars of the food world," the James Beard Foundation Awards. This year's ceremony took place on May 2 and May 3 at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall. A complete list of the winners can be found on the James Beard Foundation's Awards site, but here's are some highlights from the Restaurant and Chef Awards category (take a look before planning your next meal out):

Outstanding Chef: Tom Colicchio (Craft, NYC)

Best New Restaurant: Marea (NYC, Chef/Partner: Michael White; Partner: Chris Cannon)

Outstanding Restaurant: Daniel (NYC, Chef/Owner: Daniel Boulud; Owner: Joel Smilow)

Outstanding Pastry Chef: Nicole Plue (Redd; Yountville, CA)

Outstanding Restauranteur: Keith McNally (Balthazar, Lucky Strike, Minetta Tavern, Morandi, Pastis, Pravda, and Schiller's Liquor Bar; NYC)

Outstanding Service Award: Alinea (Chicago; Chef/Owner: Grant Achatz)

Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional: John Shafer and Doug Shafer
(Shafer Vineyards; Napa, CA)

Outstanding Wine Service: Jean Georges (NYC; Wine Director: Bernard Sun)

Rising Star Chef of the Year: Timothy Hollingsworth (The French Laundry; Yountville, CA)

The nation's top chefs and restaurants nominated for the highly coveted James Beard Foundation food and restaurant prizes were announced Monday.

There were five nominees in for the top chef prize, ABC News reported. Nominated this year are: Tom Colicchio of Craft in New York City, Gary Danko of San Francisco's Restaurant Gary Danko, Suzanne Goin of Lucques in Los Angeles, Jose Andres of Minibar in Washington, D.C. and Charles Phan of The Slanted Door in San Francisco.