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From New York:
And the Winners Are...

2007 James Beard Foundation Awards

Thomas Keller

On May 7, the James Beard Foundation announced the winners and special honorees for the 2007 James Beard Foundation Awards, the nation's top honors for culinary professionals. This year, there were 62 award categories for restaurants, chefs, broadcasting, print journalism, book authors, and restaurant design. For more information visit www.jamesbeard.org.

Summary of Awards Highlights:

OUTSTANDING RESTAURANT
presented by S.Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water

WINNER:

Frontera Grill, Chef/Owners Rick and Deann Bayless (Chicago)

NOMINEES:

Boulevard Chef/Owners Nancy Oakes and Pat Kuleto (San Francisco)
Magnolia Grill Chef/Owners Ben and Karen Barker (Durham, NC)
Picholine Chef/Owner Terrance Brennan (New York)
Spiaggia Chef/Owner Tony Mantuano and Owner Compass Group
(Chicago)


OUTSTANDING CHEF
presented by All-Clad Metalcrafters, LLC

WINNER:

Michel Richard, Michel Richard Citronelle (Washington, DC)

NOMINEES:

Tom Colicchio, Craft (New York)
Jean Joho, Everest (Chicago)
Lee Hefter, Spago (Beverly Hills)
Paul Kahan, Blackbird (Chicago)


OUTSTANDING RESTAURATEUR
presented by Waterford Wedgwood

WINNER:

Thomas Keller, The French Laundry (Yountville, CA)

NOMINEES:

Keith McNally, Balthazar (New York)
Richard Melman, Lettuce Entertain You (Chicago)
Drew Nieporent, Myriad Restaurant Group (New York)
Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Jean Georges (New York)

BEST NEW RESTAURANT

WINNER:

L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon, Chef/Owner Joël Robuchon (New York)

NOMINEES:

A Voce, Chef Andrew Carmellini (New York)
Cochon, Chefs/Owners Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski (New Orleans)
CUT, Chef/Owner Wolfgang Puck (Beverly Hills)
Restaurant Guy Savoy, Chef/Owner Guy Savoy (Las Vegas)
Momofuku Ssäm Bar, Chefs/Owners David Chang and Joaquin Baca (New York)

Gayot Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S.

RISING STAR CHEF OF THE YEAR
presented by Contessa Premium Foods

WINNER:

David Chang
, Momofuku Noodle Bar (New York)

NOMINEES:

Nate Appleman, A16 (San Francisco)
Graham Elliot Bowles, Avenues, (Chicago)
Patrick Connelly, Radius (Boston)
Daniel Humm, Eleven Madison Park (New York)


OUTSTANDING PASTRY CHEF
presented by All-Clad Metalcrafters, LLC

WINNER:

Michael Laiskonis, Le Bernardin (New York)

NOMINEES:

Will Goldfarb, Room 4 Dessert (New York)
Leslie Mackie, Macrina Bakery & Café (Seattle)
Mindy Segal, HotChocolate (Chicago)
Elisabeth Pruiett and Chad Robertson, Tartine Bakery (San Francisco)


OUTSTANDING CHEF, REGIONAL
presented by American Express

WINNERS:

GREAT LAKES
Grant Achatz
Alinea
Chicago, IL

MID-ATLANTIC
R.J. Cooper, III
Vidalia
Washington, DC

MID-WEST
Celina Tio
The American Restaurant
Kansas City, MO

NEW YORK CITY
David Waltuck
Chanterelle
New York, NY

NORTHEAST
Frank McClelland
L'Espalier
Boston, MA



NORTHWEST
John Sundstrom
Lark
Seattle, WA

PACIFIC
Traci Des Jardins
Jardinière
San Francisco, CA

SOUTH
Donald Link
Herbsaint
New Orleans, LA

SOUTHEAST
Scott Peacock
Watershed
Decatur, GA

SOUTHWEST
Nobuo Fukuda
Sea Saw
Scottsdale, AZ


OUTSTANDING SERVICE

WINNER:

Rick Tramonto, Gale Gand and Richard Melman, Tru
(Chicago)

NOMINEES:

Sam Beall, Blackberry Farm (Walland, TN)
Gisele Mason, La Grenouille (New York)
The Canlis Family, Canlis (Seattle)
Hiro Sone and Lissa Doumani, Terra (St. Helena, CA)


OUTSTANDING WINE SERVICE
presented by Waterford Wedgwood

WINNER:

Mark Slater
, Michel Richard Citronelle (Washington, DC)

NOMINEES:

Brian Duncan, Bin 36 (Chicago)
Greg Tresner, Mary Elaine's at The Phoenician (Scottsdale)
Robert Smith, Picasso (Las Vegas)
Charles Scicolone, i Trulli (New York)


OUTSTANDING WINE AND SPIRITS PROFESSIONAL
presented by Waterford Wedgwood

WINNER:

Paul Draper
, Ridge Vineyards (Cupertino, CA)

NOMINEES:

Dale DeGroff, King Cocktail (New York)
Dan Duckhorn, Duckhorn Vineyards (St. Helena)
Helen Turley, HTM Consultants/Marcassin Winery (Calistoga, CA)
Terry Theise, Terry Theise Estate Selections (Silver Springs, MD)

Gayot Rising Chefs
Rising Chefs of France


For winners in all other categories, visit www.jamesbeard.org.


VALENTINE'S DAY WINES

Add wine to the celebration of love, curated by GAYOT´s Wine & Spirits Editor.

Check the list.

CHAMPAGNE COCKTAILS

For a rosé bubbly Valentine's Day celebration.

Get the recipes.

GAYOT'S RESTAURANT AWARDSOver the years, we have been electing restaurants to be on GAYOT's Yearly Restaurant Awards.

Check the list.