2006 James Beard Awards: Note Daniel Boulud

By JULIETTE ROSSANT In the year following the imprisonment of their former president (see previous article) and frontpage advertisement that their finances are back in order, the James Beard Foundation can hardly be blamed for approaching the 2006 James Beard Foundation Awards a bit conservatively. For well known names, 2006 was a good year; for innovators and innovations, not so special. Still bestower of unquestionably the "nation's premier honors" in Food, the Foundation awarded 70 bronze awards. Chair Dorothy Cann Hamilton (whose community service extends beyond food, e.g., board of the Abraham House) spoke of the foundation's own "rebirth" over the past year, such as election of a new president and new mission. Perhaps the most interesting win was Daniel Boulud -- as Best Restaurateur, in addition to his two previous awards (in 1992 for “Best Chef of New York City” and 1994 for "Outstanding Chef of the Year"). This particular category and its winner underscore the rising importance of super chefs, who are not only chefs but entrepreneurs and celebrities. And the James Beard Foundation has had some hand in Daniel's expansion, appointing him "coordinating chef" for their 2000 Dinner of the Decade, not to mention their 2002 Chefs & Champagne honor. And when you think "restaurateur," think also "financier" -- and remember that one of Daniel's partners is Joel Smilow, former chairman of Playtex. James Beard Foundation highlighted the following winners: Cookbook of the Year: Hungry Planet: What the World Eats by Peter Menzel and Faith D'Aluisio (Ten Speed Press) Cookbook Hall of Fame: An Invitation to Indian Cooking by Madhur Jaffrey (Alfred A. Knopf) Webcast: Isabella Gerasole and Olivia Gerasole, youngest winners (10 and 8) to date, for Spatulatta.com Humanitarian of the Year: the entire restaurant community of New Orleans, collectively, for efforts to recover and serve in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina Outstanding Chef: Alfred Portale of Gotham Bar & Grill (New York) Outstanding Restaurant: Thomas Keller's The French Laundry (Yountville) Rising Star Chef: Corey Lee of The French Laundry Outstanding Restaurateur: Daniel Boulud, owner of Daniel, DB Bistro Moderne, and Café Boulud in New York, Palm Beach, and Las Vegas Outstanding Pastry Chef: Johnny Iuzzini of Jean Georges (New York) Best New Restaurant: The Modern (New York) Lifetime Achievement: Judith Jones, Vice President and Senior Editor at Alfred A. Knopf A complete list is online, and Superchefblog extends congratulations to all winners and nominees. Related news: Chicago Tribune Chicago Sun Times USA Today Eugene Register-Guard San Francisco Chronicle Honolulu Star-Bulletin Baltimore Sun Dallas-Ft. Worth Star-Telegram Winston-Salem Journal New York Times Toronto Star Blog news: Eater Previous articles: AIWF Honors Norman Van Aken Congratulations: James Beard Awards nominees James Beard Awards: Dearth of Top Women Chefs? James Beard, Emmys to Honor Julia Child James Beard's Len Pickell Gets 1-3 Years James Beard Foundation's Len Pickell Pleads Guilty Julia Child Remember'd, by Judith Jones Technorati Tags: superchefblog, Juliette Rossant, super chef, celebrities, chefs, food, restaurants, cooking, branding, cuisine, blogging, food blogging, James Beard --> back to superchefblog