Restaurants

Daniel is an Award Winner (danielnyc.com)

The James Beard Foundation has announced its 2009 awards for excellence in the food and beverage industry. By honoring the best restaurants, chefs, and more in the United States, the foundation has the power to elevate relative unknowns (and possibly deflate some otherwise puffed-up egos as well). Needless to say, the Uptake restaurants blog has a keen interest in great culinary experiences; the James Beard Foundation awards have been eagerly anticipated. This year, New York City has received more restaurant and chef awards than any other US city – reclaiming its title, perhaps, as the best destination in the states for a culinary vacation (though this writer still prefers Napa Valley).

James Beard Foundation 2009 Outstanding Restauranteur Award Winner:
Drew Nierpont, Myriad Restaurant Group, New York City

James Beard Foundation 2009 Outstanding Chef Award Winner:
Dan Barber, Blue Hill, NYC

James Beard Foundation 2009 Outstanding Restaurant Award Winner:
Jean Georges, NYC. Chef/Owner Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Owner Phil Suarez

James Beard Foundation 2009 Rising Star Chef of the Year Award Winner:
Nate Appleman, A16, San Francisco

James Beard Foundation 2009 Best New Restaurant Award Winner:
Momofuku Ko, NYC, Chef/Owner David Chang

James Beard Foundation 2009 Outstanding Pastry Chef Award Winner
Gina DePalma, Babbo, NYC

James Beard Foundation 2009 Outstanding Wine Service Award Winner
Le Bernardin, NYC, Wine Director Aldo Sohm

James Beard Foundation 2009 Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional Award Winner (this award goes to the brewer, spritis or winemaker who has had the most impact on the wine and spirits industry)
Dale DeGroff Co., In. NYC

James Beard Outstanding Service Award Winner
Daniel, NYC, Owners Daniel Boulud and Joel Smilow

Look at all these New York City restaurants on the list! It’s no wonder that aspiring chefs from around the

Baci di Dama at Babbo (babbonyc.com)

world come to the Big Apple for training. I’ve got to admit, I’ve been to very few of these top-notch James Beard winners. However, it’s nice to have goals in life. New York City, here I come…fork in hand and napkin on lap!