2011 James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards

The James Beard Foundation is the most prestigious organization in the professional culinary world. Since 1986, the annual James Beard Foundation Awards honor the best chefs, restaurant professionals, food writers and other media in the industry. There are 55 categories in the Foundation’s various awards programs – Restaurant and Chef, Restaurant Design and Graphics, Book, Broadcast and Journalism – in addition to special achievement award honorees including Lifetime Achievement, Humanitarian of the Year, Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America and America’s Classics.

2011 James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards

Best New Restaurant

(Presented by Mercedes-Benz)
A restaurant opened in 2010 that already displays excellence in food, beverage, and service and is likely to have a significant impact on the industry in years to come.

ABC Kitchen
NYC
Chef/Owner: Jean-Georges Vongerichten
Owners: Paulette Cole, ABC Home and Phil Suarez

Outstanding Chef Award

A working chef in America whose career has set national industry standards and who has served as an inspiration to other food professionals. Candidates must have been working as chefs for at least the past 5 years.

José Andrés
minibar by josé andrés
Washington, D.C.

Outstanding Pastry Chef Award

A chef or baker who prepares desserts, pastries, or breads and who serves as a national standard-bearer for excellence. Candidates must have been pastry chefs or bakers for at least the past 5 years.

Angela Pinkerton
Eleven Madison Park
NYC

Outstanding Restaurant Award

A restaurant in the United States that serves as a national standard-bearer for consistent quality and excellence in food, atmosphere, and service. Candidates must have been in operation for at least 10 or more consecutive years.

Eleven Madison Park
NYC
Owner: Danny Meyer

Outstanding Restaurateur Award

A working restaurateur who sets high national standards in restaurant operations and entrepreneurship. Candidates must have been in the restaurant business for at least 10 years. Candidates must not have been nominated for a James Beard Foundation chef award in the past 10 years.

Richard Melman
Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises
Chicago

Outstanding Service Award

(Presented By Stella Artois)

A restaurant that demonstrates high standards of hospitality and service. Candidates must have been in operation for at least the past 5 years.

Per Se
NYC
Chef/Owner: Thomas Keller and Laura Cunningham

Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional Award

(Presented by Southern Wine & Spirits of New York)

A winemaker, brewer, or spirits professional who has had a significant impact on the wine and spirits industry nationwide. Candidates must have been in the profession for at least 5 years.

Julian P. Van Winkle, III
Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery
Louisville, KY

Outstanding Wine Service Award

A restaurant that displays and encourages excellence in wine service through a well-presented wine list, a knowledgeable staff, and efforts to educate customers about wine. Candidates must have been in operation for at least 5 years.

The Modern
NYC
Wine Director: Belinda Chang

Rising Star Chef of the Year Award

A chef age 30 or younger who displays an impressive talent and who is likely to have a significant impact in the industry in years to come.

Gabriel Rucker
Le Pigeon
Portland, OR

Best Chefs in America

(Presented by Groupon)

Chefs who have set new or consistent standards of excellence in their respective regions. Each candidate may be employed by any kind of dining establishment and must have been a working chef for at least the past 5 years. The 3 most recent years must have been spent in the region where the chef is presently working.

Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)

Alex Young
Zingerman’s Roadhouse
Ann Arbor, MI

Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (D.C., DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA )

Michael Solomonov
Zahav
Philadelphia

Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI)

Isaac Becker
112 Eatery
Minneapolis

Best Chef: New York City (Five Boroughs)

Gabrielle Hamilton
Prune

Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, NY STATE , RI, VT)

Tony Maws
Craigie On Main
Cambridge, MA

Best Chef: Northwest (AK, ID, MT, OR, WA , WY)

Andy Ricker
Pok Pok
Portland, OR

Best Chef: Pacific (CA, HI)

Michael Tusk
Quince
San Francisco

Best Chef: South (AL, AR, FL, LA , MS)

Stephen Stryjewski
Cochon
New Orleans

Best Chef: Southeast (GA , KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)

Andrea Reusing
Lantern
Chapel Hill, NC

Best Chef: Southwest (AZ, CO, NM, NV, OK, TX , UT)

Saipin Chutima
Lotus of Siam
Las Vegas

Tyson Cole
Uchi
Austin, TX

2011 James Beard Foundation Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America Inductees

Jonathan Gold
Writer, LA Weekly
Los Angeles

Lee Jones
Farmer/ Owner, Chef’s Garden
Huron, OH

Charles Phan
Chef/Owner, The Slanted Door
San Francisco

Frank Stitt
Chef/Owner, Highlands Bar and Grill
Birmingham, AL

Nick Valenti
CEO, Patina Restaurant Group
NYC

2011 James Beard Foundation America’s Classics Awards

(Presented by The Coca-Cola Company)

Restaurants with timeless appeal, beloved in their regions for quality food that reflects the character of their community. Establishments must have been in existence at least 10 years and be locally owned.

Chef Vola’s
111 South Albion Place, Atlantic City, NJ
Owners: Louise Esposito, Michael Esposito, Michael Esposito Jr., Louis Esposito

Crook’s Corner
610 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC
Owner: Gene Hamer

Noriega Restaurant and Hotel
525 Sumner St., Bakersfield, CA
Owners: Linda Elizalde McCoy and Rochelle Ladd

Le Veau d’Or
129 East 60th Street, NYC
Owner: Robert Tréboux

Watts Tea Shop
761 N. Jefferson Street, Milwaukee
President and CEO: Sam Watts

2011 James Beard Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award

Kevin Zraly

2011 James Beard Foundation Humanitarian of the Year

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