What a week for Mindy Segal. After a half-dozen nominations, she picked up a James Beard Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef in the U.S., no small feat, considering she runs an entire restaurant, rather than just a dessert menu tucked within one. But this year, Segal wasn’t in New York City for the awards … Continued
Although it was not a fantastic night for Chicago, the city still came away with five good wins at the 2012 James Beard Awards hosted at New York City’s Lincoln Center. North Pond‘s Bruce Sherman won Best Chef: Great Lakes after his sixth year of nomination, Mindy Segal won Outstanding Pastry Chef for her … Continued
Chicago’s Next Restaurant won the Best New Restaurant award at the 2012 James Beard Awards today in New York City. You can watch my interview with co-owner Nick Kokonas and chef Dave Beran below:
I interviewed Charlie Trotter after he won the Humanitarian of the Year award at the 2012 James Beard Awards. Trotter’s eponymous restaurant will be closing in August after 25 years of service. You can watch the interview below:
I spoke with North Pond‘s Bruce Sherman after he won the Best Chef: Great Lakes category at the 2012 James Beard Awards after six previous nominations. You can watch the interview below:
It’s rare when art imitates life so obviously, and in-your-face, but there I was on Saturday night in Brooklyn, waiting for a table at Pok Pok, the highly-touted Portland Thai restaurant’s new branch, inhaling the scent of lemongrass and fish sauce, when, after glancing around the rear dining room, I realized there were at … Continued
I spoke with Rene Redzepi, chef and co-owner of Noma, after his restaurant was announced as the world’s best by the “World’s 50 Best Restaurants.” This marks the third consecutive year the Copenhagen restaurant has taken home the top place at the awards. You can watch the interview here:
I talked to Thomas Keller today after two of his restaurants made the “World’s 50 Best Restaurants” list: Per Se in New York (#6) and The French Laundry in Yountville, Calif. (#43). In addition, Keller also received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the food industry. You can watch the interview … Continued
The “World’s 50 Best Restaurants” announced Denmark’s Noma as the world’s top restaurant for the third year in a row today in London. The votes were cast by members of the Academy representing 27 regions around the world. Each region consists of a 31-member panel made up of food critics, chefs, restaurateurs and gastronomes. … Continued
I’m in London this weekend, attending meetings for the “World’s 50 Best Restaurants” sponsored by San Pellegrino, which will hold its annual awards ceremony later today (about 2 p.m. Chicago time). I’ve been on the judging Academy the past few years, overseeing the Canada/Mid-USA Region. Organizers have divided the globe up into 27 regions, with each … Continued
Every great road trip experience is marked by dinner at a historic, family-owned diner after a long day of driving. To commemorate the spirit of food and travel, the Greater Midwest Food Alliance is presenting Road Food: Exploring the Midwest One Bite at a Time, a three-day conference that begins today and runs through Sunday. … Continued