Aaron Franklin celebrates with a kiss before taking the stage.
This week, The Braiser’s in Chicago, recapping the events of the 25th annual James Beard Foundation Awards.
Before revelers fled to the hot dog trucks outside The Aviary and that woman with the bionic mezcal-pouring arms at Frontera Grill, nominees had to squirm through 3.5 hours of Alton Brown playing the guitar/handing out medals inside the Lyric Opera House of Chicago, (where all news wasn’t bad news last night.) After the uninterrupted 45 minute musical interlude that opened the show, the winners were announced. And while Chicago claimed honors for Outstanding Restaurateur which went to Donnie Madia, and Outstanding Bar Program, which went to The Violet Hour, San Francisco made the strongest case it should be the JBFA’s next home after Chicago’s contract expires in 2017.
The New York Contingent
Best New Restaurant: Bâtard, NYC
New York City: Mark Ladner, Del Posto, NYC
Outstanding Baker: Jim Lahey, Sullivan Street Bakery, NYC
Outstanding Chef: Michael Anthony, Gramercy Tavern, NYC
Outstanding Pastry Chef: Christina Tosi, Momofuku, NYC
Outstanding Restaurant: Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Pocantico Hills, NY
Chicago’s Showing
Outstanding Bar Program: The Violet Hour, Chicago
Outstanding Restaurateur: Donnie Madia, One Off Hospitality Group (Blackbird, Avec, The Publican, etc), Chicago
Design Award, 75 Seats and Under: Project: Brindille, Chicago
Lifetime Achievement Award: Richard Melman, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises Chicago
Ambitious San Francisco
Outstanding Wine Program: A16, San Francisco
Outstanding Wine, Beer, or Spirits Professional: Rajat Parr, Mina Group, San Francisco
West: Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski, State Bird Provisions, San Francisco
The Regionals
Great Lakes: Jonathon Sawyer, Greenhouse Tavern, Cleveland
Mid-Atlantic: Spike Gjerde, Woodberry Kitchen, Baltimore
Midwest: Gerard Craft, Niche, Clayton, MO
Northeast: Barry Maiden, Hungry Mother, Cambridge, MA
Northwest: Blaine Wetzel, The Willows Inn on Lummi Island, Lummi Island, WA
South: Alon Shaya, Domenica, New Orleans
Southeast: Jason Stanhope, FIG, Charleston, SC
Southwest: Aaron Franklin, Franklin Barbecue, Austin
The Esteemed
Humanitarian of the Year: Michel Nischan, CEO, President and Co-Founder of Wholesome Wave Westport, CT
2015 James Beard Foundation America’s Classics
Archie’s Waeside Le Mars, IA. Owner: Robert Rand
Beaumont Inn, Harrodsburg, KY. Owners: Elizabeth and Dixon Dedman, Helen and Chuck Dedman
Guelaguetza, Los Angeles. Owners: The Lopez Family
Sally Bell’s Kitchen, Richmond, VA. Owners: Martha Crowe Jones and Scott Jones
Sevilla Restauran, NYC. Owners: Jose Lloves and Bienvenido Alvarez
2015 James Beard Foundation Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America
Allan Benton, Pork Producer and Purveyor, Madisonville, TN
Dale DeGroff Mixologist NYC
Wylie Dufresne, Chef and Restaurateur NYC
Nathalie Dupree, Cookbook Author and Television Personality Charleston, SC
Maricel Presilla, Chef, Restaurateur, and Cookbook Author Hoboken, NJ
And The Rest
Outstanding Service: The Barn at Blackberry Farm, Walland, TN
Rising Star Chef: Jessica Largey, Manresa, Los Gatos, CA
Design Firm: Bureau of Architecture and Design; Designers: Tom Nahabedian and James Gorski
Design Award, 76 Seats and Over: Project: Workshop Kitchen + Bar, Palm Springs, CA; Design Firm: SOMA; Designers: Michel Abboud
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