The 2011 James Beard Foundation restaurant and chef awards were awarded last night at Avery Fisher Hall. Here’s a jbf_award_medallion_2rundown of the major ones:

Best new restaurant
A restaurant opened in 2010 that already displays excellence in food, beverage, and service and is likely
to have a significant impact on the industry in years to come.

ABC Kitchen
NYC Chef/Owner: Jean-Georges Vongerichten Owners: Paulette Cole, ABC Home and Phil Suarez

Outstanding Chef award
A working chef in America whose career has set national industry standards and who has served as an inspiration to other food professionals. Candidates must have been working as chefs for at least the past 5 years.
José Andrés
minibar by José Andrés Washington, D.C.

Outstanding Pastry Chef Award
A chef or baker who prepares desserts, pastries, or breads and who serves as a national standard-bearer for excellence. Candidates must have been pastry chefs or bakers for at least the past 5 years.
Angela Pinkerton
Eleven Madison Park NYC

Outstanding Restaurant Award
A restaurant in the United States that serves as a national standard-bearer for consistent quality and excellence in food, atmosphere, and service. Candidates must have been in operation for at least 10 or more consecutive years.
Eleven Madison Park
NYC Owner: Danny Meyer

Outstanding Restaurateur Award
A working restaurateur who sets high national standards in restaurant operations and entrepreneurship. Candidates must have been in the restaurant business for at least 10 years. Candidates must not have been nominated for a James Beard Foundation chef award in the past 10 years.
Richard Melman
Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises Chicago

Outstanding Service Award
A restaurant that demonstrates high standards of hospitality and service. Candidates must have been in operation for at least the past 5 years.
Per Se
NYC Chef/Owner: Thomas Keller and Laura Cunningham

Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional Award
A winemaker, brewer, or spirits professional who has had a significant impact on the wine and spirits
industry nationwide. Candidates must have been in the profession for at least 5 years.

Julian P. Van Winkle, III
Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery Louisville, KY

Outstanding Wine Service Award
A restaurant that displays and encourages excellence in wine service through a well-presented wine list, a knowledgeable staff, and efforts to educate customers about wine. Candidates must have been in operation for at least 5 years.
The Modern
NYC Wine Director: Belinda Chang

Rising Star Chef of the Year Award
A chef age 30 or younger who displays an impressive talent and who is likely to have a significant impact
on the industry in years to come.

Gabriel Rucker
Le Pigeon Portland, OR

Best Chefs in America
Chefs who have set new or consistent standards of excellence in their respective regions. Each candidate may be employed by any kind of dining establishment and must have been a working chef for at least the past 5 years. The 3 most recent years must have been spent in the region where the chef is presently working.
Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)
Alex Young
Zingerman’s Roadhouse Ann Arbor, MI
Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (D.C., DE, MD, NH, PA, VA) ,
Michael Solomonov
Zahav Philadelphia
Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO NE, ND, SD, WI)
Isaac Becker
112 Eatery Minneapolis
Best Chef: New York City
Gabrielle Hamilton
Prune
Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, NY State, RI, VT)
Tony Maws
Craigie On Main Cambridge, MA
Best Chef: Northwest (AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY)
Andy Ricker
Pok Pok Portland, OR
Best Chef: Pacific (CA, HI)
Michael Tusk
Quince San Francisco
Best Chef: South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS)
Stephen Stryjewski
Cochon New Orleans
Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)
Andrea Reusing
Lantern Chapel Hill, NC
Best Chef: Southwest (AZ, CO, NM, NV, OK, TX, UT) – a tie!
Saipin Chutima
Lotus of Siam Las Vegas
Tyson Cole
Uchi Austin, TX

America’s Classics Awards
Restaurants with timeless appeal, beloved in their regions for quality food that reflects the character of
their community. Establishments must have been in existence at least 10 years and be locally owned.

Chef Vola’s
111 South Albion Place, Atlantic City, NJ Owners: Louise Esposito, Michael Esposito, Michael Esposito Jr., Louis Esposito
Crook’s Corner
610 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC Owner: Gene Hamer
Noriega Restaurant and Hotel
525 Sumner St., Bakersfield, CA
Owners: Linda Elizalde McCoy and Rochelle Ladd
Le Veau d’Or
129 East 60th Street, NYC Owner: Robert Tréboux
Watts Tea Shop
761 N. Jefferson Street, Milwaukee President and CEO: Sam Watts

Lifetime Achievement Award — Kevin Zraly

Humanitarian of the Year — FareStart