Last night's James Beard Awards was an epic celebration that featured a yellow carpet, awards for the best chefs in the country, extraordinary cocktails, and delicious small bites.
The actual awards ceremony took three hours and included musical performances by Trisha Yearwood and Holly Williams. Presenters included the expected — like Food Network stars Mario Batali and Ted Allen — and the unexpected — like former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Questlove, Jimmy Fallon's The Tonight Show band leader and a drummer for The Roots.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Sirio Maccioni of Le Cirque, who gave a touching speech. Heart strings were pulled again when Delaware-based chef Matt Haley won the Humanitarian of the Year award. Haley talked about his time as a drug addict who got his second chance in the food industry. He spoke of traveling to Nepal to teach orphans how to cook, saving a woman who had been sold as a sex slave, and helping local and international at-risk children.
After the ceremony more than 60 booths served stunning small bites, wow-worthy cocktails and wine, and almost-too-beautiful-to-eat desserts. Check out the pics below. And for a full list of winners, go to jamesbeard.org.
Andrew Zimmern on the Yellow Carpet
Questlove and Mario Batali Present Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic and Best Chef: NYC
Chef Rick Bayless and Gus Schumacher, VP of Policy at the Wholesome Wave Foundation
Chef John Besh, Winner of Who's Who of Food & Beverage in America
Casa Dragones Bartender Mixing Drinks
Casa Dragones White Dragon Cocktail: Tequila, Cointreau, Lemon Juice, and Egg Whites
Ceviche
Chef Ford Fry of No.246's Spot Prawn Cappelletti
Italian Kitchen (Memphis)'s Halibut Crudo
Lavazza's Espresso and Coffee Caviar by Ferran Adrià
Chefs Sarag Kosikowski & Derek Poiriers's Crème Citron, Praline Jelly, and Opalys Mousse
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