Jose Andres, on the left.

The 2011 James Beard Foundation Awards held Monday, May 9th finally brought recognition to DC’s own Jose Andres, naming him Outstanding Chef for his most exclusive and creative D.C. endeavor, minibar, after three previous nominations in the same category.  That award, which last year went to celebrity chef and Top Chef host/producer/judge Tom Colicchio, capped the raucous and enthusiastic event.  And, in accepting his award, Andres did not disappoint.  Addressing the crowd as “People of America,” not only did he give thanks to lots of deserving people (including his mentor Ferran Adria, his wife Patricia – whom he forgot to thank in his 2003 acceptance speech for Best Chef: Mid Atlantic, and his staff), but he interspersed joy with seriousness, noting the power of food— asserting that it can end hunger and end obesity.

This is a banner year for Andes.  He will also receive the Duke Zeibert Capital  Achievement Award at this year’s RAMMY awards—DC’s own version of the James Beard Awards run by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington to be held on Sunday, June 26; and the 60 minutes segment on Andres won Best Television Segment at the Beard Media Awards held on May 6.

Yigit Pura's dessert.

Other than Andres’ somewhat expected win, the event provided a number of surprises.  Rising Star Chef of the Year went to Gabriel Rucker of Portland Oregon’s Le Pigeon, the first such award for an Oregonian.  Rucker beat out NYC’s darling Cristina Tosi who helms David Chang’s Momofuku Milk Bar.  In the regional category, for Best Chef: New York City, underdog Gabrielle Hamilton of Prune Restaurant beat out heavy hitters Wylie Dufresne (wd-50), Michael White (Marea), Michael Anthony (Gramercy Tavern), and April Bloomfield (nominated for The Spotted Pig, but also touted for Breslin Bar and the new John Dory Oyster Bar).  In the Mid-Atlantic category (which previous winner Andres presented before his win), DC’s Johnny Monis (Komi), Cathal Armstrong (Restaurant Eve), and Peter Pastan (Obelisk) lost out to Philadelphia’s Michael Solomonov (Zahav).  And in Best Chef: Southwest,  Tyson Cole of Austin, TX (Uchi) grudgingly shared the award with Saipin Chutima of Las Vegas (Lotus of Siam) as the result of a tie.

Other awards were less surprising.  Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s well-regarded ABC

The crowd, including WD-50s Wyle Dufresne.

Kitchen won Best New Restaurant; Outstanding Wine Service went to Belinda Chang of Danny Meyer’s the Modern; and Thomas Keller’s pricey Time Warner Center Per Se took the Outstanding Serviced Award.  New York’s beloved Danny Meyer, and his popular and highly regarded Eleven Madison Park, took home both Outstanding Restaurant and Outstanding Pastry Chef (for the lovely Angela Pinkerton).

Once the awards were handed out, guests flowed out of Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall theater into the Awards Gala reception, featuring tastings from several of the nominees and winners, including three D.C. locals: Andres (who served as Gala Co-Chair along with Top Chef Masters alums Floyd Cardoz and Susan Feniger), Rasika’s Vikram Sunderam, and Michel Richard of Citronelle and Central. Guy Savoy’s Artichoke and Black Truffle Soup with Toasted Mushroom Brioche and Black Truffle Butter was the consensus favorite, although Top Chef: Just Desserts winner Yigit Pura’s chocolate concoction (ridiculously named Tonka Bean-Infused Chocolate Cremux with Organic Mulberry Compote, Floral Red Fruit Tea, and Chocolate Puffs) surely delighted chocoholics.

Michel Richard's "eggstravagaza."

After parties were plentiful.  Daniel Boulud’s newly opened French market Epicerie Boulud and his not yet opened (it opened the next day) Boulud Sud, which share a kitchen, propped the doors separating the two, and threw the whole place open for extensive apps and flowing drinks.  Eleven Madison Park, which last year was apparently “trashed” at the after party, hosted again, and again was the wildest place to be. Andres, who began the evening at Epicerie, left walking arm in arm down Broadway with White House Assistant Chef and Food Initiative Coordinator  Sam Kass, presumably towards the more refined after party at Per Se.  No word on whether he made it to the party hosted by the guys behind Best New Restaurant nominee Torrisi Italian Specialties and David Chang’s Momofuku team at the Jane Hotel.

The entire list of winners can be found at http://jamesbeard.org/files/2011_JBF_Awards_Winners.pdf

-Written by recurring Guest Blogger, Lisa Bornstein (LMB)

[ad]