"james beard foundation awards" news and stories

The foodie Twitterverse spread quickly with sad news yesterday of food legend Michael Batterberry's passing late Wednesday. Batterberry was the founder of Food & Wine magazine as well as Food Arts magazine, and was honored with a lifetime achievement award at this year's James Beard Foundation Awards. "A very sad loss for the food world," tweets Ruth Reichl, former editor in chief of Gourmet. Head over to The New York Times for the official obituary for the Manhattan resident.

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)