At an invitation-only reception in the spectacular Terrace Room at The Plaza in New York City, Ruth Reichl, editor in chief, Gourmet hosted a reception to welcome 2008 inductees into The James Beard Foundation’s Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America.

Those of us lucky enough to attend slurped oysters from Totten Inlet Virginica (Taylor Shellfish Farms Shelton, WA) arranged for by Jon Rowley, sushi from Nobu arranged by Drew Nieporent, Mats Engstrom’s Tsar Nicoulai Caviar on white bread toast points with crème fraîche and an assortment of nibbles provided by The Plaza including spiced lamb meatballs wrapped in eggplant leaves with a coriander yogurt sauce, miniature burgers on soft cocktail rolls with accoutrements and miniature lobster rolls— all while rubbing shoulders with the Who’s Who of the food world. This was the first ever gathering of that prestigious group.

Susan Ungaro, President of the James Beard Foundation, and William Rice, Committee Chair, introduced the newest members of this group, selected by those already members. Th0se new inductees included:

• Dan Barber; Chef/Owner: Blue Hill (NYC) and Blue Hill at Stone Barns (Pocantino Hills, NY)
• Anthony Bourdain; Author and Chef (NYC)
• Nancy Oakes; Chef: Boulevard (San Francisco)
• Russ Parsons; Writer, The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles)
• Zanne Early Stewart; Former Executive Food Editor, Gourmet (NYC)
• Steve Sullivan; Founder/Owner, Acme Bread Company (Berkeley, CA)