2008 JAMES BEARD WINNER @ GFC

And the winner is...

In my opinion, Joe Bastianich & Mario Batali, for receiving the Outstanding Restaurateur Award which was an insanely competitive category this year. Congrats to chef Grant Achatz @ Alinea in Chicago who's been racking up praise left and right, including his James Beard Award as Best Chef: Great Lakes for 2007. And a really big congrats to Adam Siegel for winning Best Chef: Midwest amongst some tough competition. Way to put Wisconsin on the culinary map for something other than cheese and beer.

Other notable winners include...

2008 James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards

Outstanding Restaurateur:
  Joe Bastianich/Mario Batali @ Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca
Outstanding Chef:
  Grant Achatz @ Alinea
Outstanding Pastry Chef:
  Elisabeth Prueitt and Chad Robertson @ Tartine Bakery
Outstanding Restaurant:
  Danny Meyer @ Gramercy Tavern
Outstanding Service:
  Terra, St. Helena, CA
Outstanding Wine Service:
  John Ragan @ Eleven Madison Park
Outstanding Wine & Spirits Professional:
  Terry Theise @ Terry Theise Estate Selections

Best New Restaurant:
   Central Michel Richard, Washington, DC

Rising Star Chef of the Year:
  Gavin Kaysen @ Café Boulud, NYC

Best Chef Awards:

BEST CHEF [GREAT LAKES]: Carrie Nahabedian @ Naha
Chicago, IL ~ Make a reservation
BEST CHEF [MID-ATLANTIC]: Eric Ziebold @ CityZen
Washington, DC ~ Make a reservation
BEST CHEF [MIDWEST]: Adam Siegel @ Bartolotta's Lake Park Bistro
Milwaukee, WI ~ Make a reservation
BEST CHEF [NEW YORK CITY]: David Chang @ Momofuku Ssäm Bar
East Village, NYC, NY ~ Make a reservation
BEST CHEF [NORTHEAST]: Patrick Connolly @ Radius
Boston, MA ~ Make a reservation
BEST CHEF [NORTHWEST]: Holly Smith @ Café Juanita
Kirkland, WA ~ Make a reservation
BEST CHEF [PACIFIC]: Craig Stoll @ Delfina
San Franciso, CA ~ Make a reservation
BEST CHEF [SOUTH]: Michelle Bernstein @ Michy's
Miami, FL ~ Make a reservation
BEST CHEF [SOUTHEAST]: Robert Stehling @ Hominy Grill
Charleston, SC ~ Make a reservation
BEST CHEF [SOUTHWEST]: Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson @ Frasca Food and Wine
Boulder, CO ~ Make a reservation

2008 James Beard Foundation America’s Classics Awards

See the list here.

James Beard Foundation Books Awards

COOKBOOK OF THE YEAR: Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
The River Cottage Meat Book

COOKBOOK HALL OF FAME: Paula Wolfert
Couscous and Other Good Food from Morocco

ASIAN COOKING: Niloufer Ichaporia King
My Bombay Kitchen: Traditional and Modern Parsi Home Cooking

BAKING AND DESSERT: Peter Reinhart
Peter Reinhart's Whole Grain Breads: New Techniques, Extraordinary Flavor

PROFESSIONAL POINT OF VIEW: The French Culinary Institute with Judith Choate
The Fundamental Techniques of Classic Cuisine

ENTERTAINING: Trish Magwood
Dish Entertains: Everyday Simple to Special Occasions

GENERAL: James Peterson
Cooking

HEALTHY FOCUS: Jean Harvey-Berino with Joyce Hendley and the Editors of EatingWell
The EatingWell Diet

INTERNATIONAL: Anne Willan
The Country Cooking of France

PHOTOGRAPHY: France Ruffenach (Photographer)
The Country Cooking of France

REFERENCE: Rowan Jacobsen
A Geography of Oysters: The Connoisseur's Guide to Oyster Eating in North America

SINGLE SUBJECT: David Wondrich
Imbibe!: From Absinthe Cocktail to Whiskey Smash, a Salute in Stories and Drinks to "Professor" Jerry Thomas, Pioneer of the American Bar

James Beard Foundation Journalism Awards

Website: Epicurious.com
Multimedia Writing: Grub Street @ nymag.com
by Josh Ozersky and Daniel Maurer
Television Food Special: Top Chef Holiday Special
Television Show: Gourmet's Diary of a Foodie
Webcast: Stewards of the Land @ GrapeRadio.com